What is emotional dependence?
Emotional dependence is a psychological state that takes place in personal relationships, whether family, partner or friendship. It affects many people, although most are not aware of it. Dependent people show a great lack of self-control and feel great discomfort when they move away from the person on whom the dependence is centered. On the other hand, they feel an insatiable need to be with that person and are unable to cut the ties that bind them.
Prognosis of the disease
Although sometimes there may be cases of transient emotional dependence, the most common is that the patient repeats the pattern of emotional dependence throughout his life, with his romantic partner, but also with family or friends.
The psychological consequences of emotional dependence are diverse and can be affected depending on the degree of dependence and the characteristics of the patient. in many cases, these people with emotional dependence seek out people with a dominant, possessive and authoritarian character, feeding a toxic relationship of domination.
On the other hand, people with emotional dependence are not capable of leaving a relationship even if they are being belittled, used or mistreated. Thus, their emotional health is affected by these toxic relationships.
Symptoms of emotional dependence
People who exhibit emotional dependence may find some of these patterns in their relationship:
- They cannot stand to be alone, and physical or emotional distance from their partner represents symptoms of stress and anxiety for them.
- Also because of the fear of being alone, they do not leave the relationship even if it does not make them happy.
- They are submissive before their partner and are capable of not expressing their opinions or not arguing in order not to displease their partner.
- They often feel inferior to others and feel that they are not good enough for their partner, as well as obsess about the idea of being cheated on.
Often people with emotional dependence are jealous and obsessed with isolating themselves and their partner, destroying their social relationships.
Diagnosis of emotional dependence
Most people with emotional dependence do not know it, and even refuse to accept it when someone close to them notices it. Mental health disorders are invisible illnesses and it is difficult to detect them in the absence of physical symptoms.
Normally, people who come to the psychology office do so to overcome the symptoms of depression, anxiety or stress they suffer, without knowing that the cause of these symptoms lies in their emotional dependence. The psychological examination by a specialist is what will determine the diagnosis.
What are the causes of emotional dependence?
Those who present emotional dependence are mostly people with low self-esteem, many insecurities and low self-confidence. In addition, there is a component of the education received or the references they have had throughout their lives.
Can it be prevented?
Maintaining good emotional health is a good way to prevent this emotional dependence. It is important in childhood and adolescence, during emotional and personality development, to nurture self-esteem, personal growth and confidence, as well as to remove complexes and insecurities.
Therapy for emotional dependence
Currently there are several techniques to treat emotional dependence, which will be chosen or combined depending on each case, such as EMDR therapy, clinical hypnosis, EFT, couple or personal growth therapies.
In general, the objective of the therapy will be focused on helping the person to recognize the problem, to abandon the toxic relationships he/she may have, to detect the causes of this emotional dependence and to treat it so that the patient does not repeat the same pattern.
What specialist treats it?
The psychologist is the specialist in charge of treating mental health disorders. After diagnosing the problem, he/she will accompany and support the patient in the search for the cause, the growth of his/her self-esteem and confidence and the constitution of new relationships and a new life without emotional dependence.