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In this post, entitled Co-dependency Happens When You\u2019re Not Looking, we cover the following topics:

1. Any family who has an active addict or alcoholic in their midst is vulnerable to co-dependency, without exception.
2. Co-dependents are best defined as people whose lives have become unmanageable as a result of living with an alcoholic (or addict) in a committed relationship.
3. Co-dependents are tied to their alcoholic or addict by an emotional chain which means they are only OK when their addict is OK. The co-dependent spouse of the addict or alcoholic feels overly responsible for every aspect of her spouse\u2019s well-being and neglects her own needs.
4. Families where the disorder is active learn to stuff their thoughts and feelings: \u201cDon\u2019t talk, don\u2019t trust, don\u2019t feel\u201d becomes the unspoken mantra.
5. The co-dependent can indeed liberate herself from her spouse\u2019s disorder whether her spouse is still using or drinking or not. She can begin her recovery with the help of professionals and with the loving guidance of a sponsor in Al-Anon.