Essay Sample on Codependency in Addiction: A Case Study of Coleen

In her book "Addiction in the Family: What Every Counselor Needs to Know (2015)" Virginia Kelly discusses the issues related to family addiction, how they affect family relationships and way through which these conditions can be managed to forge healthy family and interpersonal relationships. Of great interest here is the issue of codependency in a particular case of a 26-year-old female by the name Coleen who reports having issues with relationships. According to Kelly (2015), codependency refers to a relationship illness in which an individual faces persistent struggles out of being in a relationship with a person suffering from substance-abusing disorder (SUD). Looking at Coleen's case, specific issues are emphasized concerning co-dependency.

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Certain behaviors are indicative of codependency issues and are exhibited by Coleen include an exaggerated sense of responsibility as she takes care of specific affairs that should belong to her partner, Sean. She strives to meets Sean's needs, including dressing, to impress him, yet she neglects her needs, such as emotional needs. Coleen makes it clear that she cannot live without Sean, meaning she has an emotional attachment to him (Kelly, 2015). Other behaviors that indicate codependency is the inability to talk out issues in the heat of the moment, and emotional distance between one another.

When Coleen becomes ambivalent when Sean considers marrying, certain aspects can be used to conclude that codependency is the root cause of her ambivalence. Substance use disorder is one of the significant problems associated with codependency, and Sean, as narrated by Coleen, is an alcoholic who does not go a day without drinking. From her story, Coleen is clearly from a dysfunctional family, and her childhood and adolescence were compromised. She was hardly recognized by her mother, and this explains her tendency to become hurt when her efforts are not recognized (Kelly, 2015). Coleen may be hesitant with marriage as she thinks alcoholism might compromise Sean's ability to compliment her codependent personality disorder.

To asses Colleen for issues of codependency, a particular criterion has to be followed. Kelly (2015) has highlighted Timmen Cermak's proposal, which offers a way to do this (Cermak, 1986). The diagnostic should:

• Check the involvement of one's self-esteem during difficult circumstances
• Check whether or not one assumes the responsibility of meeting the needs of others at the expense of theirs.
• Show of boundary distortions and anxiety during intimacy or separation
• The exhibition of the enmeshment of relationships with their codependent partners
• Show compulsions, hypervigilance, depression, emotional constriction, anxiety, substance abuse, or being in a long-lasting relationship with a substance abuser.

These aspects might not be exhaustive as codependency issues can easily be confused with other types of personality disorders, especially if drug abuse and mental dysfunctionalities are involved. Other issues that should be anticipated while working with colleen in situations like counseling sessions include her family history, stress-related medical illnesses, any signs of previous physical or sexual abuse, and whether or not she has tried to seek help while in a relationship that has lasted for at least two years, with a substance-abusing partner (Cermak, 1986). It is crucial to note that primary codependence is associated with disrupted child developmental stages and is not easy to treat. Secondary codependence refers to a chain of unhealthy reactionary behaviors and may not be challenging to treat.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the codependency issue requires a set of diagnostic procedures and behavioral studies to ascertain its presence in an individual. Helping persons with this kind of disorder, such as Colleen, requires a detailed understanding of other additional psychological concepts of human development.

References

Cermak, T. (1986). Diagnostic Criteria for Codependency. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, 18(1), 15-20. Doi: 10.1080/02791072.1986.10524475

Kelly, V. (2015). Addiction in the Family: What Every Counselor Needs to Know (1) (pp. 1-137). Hoboken, US: American Counseling Association.