Have you ever left like the world is on your shoulders?

What is Co-dependency?

Here are the traits of Co-dependency.

• Low self-esteem.
• Trouble identifying your own emotions.
• Trouble making decisions.
• Desire to care for others.
• Desire to feel important to someone.
• An excessive sense of responsibility for the way others act.
• A tendency to fall in love with people you can “rescue”
• Difficulty dealing with change.

Where do I start? I guess it all began in September of 1986, when I was born to two wonderful parents. I’m the oldest of four kids, and with that title came responsibility early on. I had to grow up quick. Taking care of my siblings wasn’t optional it was a must. Making sure they were fed, that they got to school, and, of course, following the number one rule: never open the door to strangers.

Without realizing it, this was the beginning of my co-dependency. At the time, I didn’t know what that word even meant, or how it would eventually shape my life as an adult. All I knew was that my needs didn’t matter as much as theirs. Their well-being came first, no matter what I had going on.

As I grew older, this need to take care of others showed up in every relationship I had with friends, boyfriends, and just people in general. I thought love meant solving problems, being liked, and putting everyone else’s needs above my own. It gave me validation, but also left me carrying the weight of the world on my shoulders.

I share this because if you’ve ever felt the same like your worth depends on what you do for others you need to know you’re not alone.