The Overwhelmed Brain

Emotional Intelligence for Critical Thinkers

Codependency: The Subtle Erosion of Love and Connection

Codependence is when two or more people fulfill a need for each other that strengthens a dysfunction between them.

You’ll often see this kind of dynamic between several different types of people:

  • The Rescuer and the Addict
  • The People-Pleaser and the Abuser
  • The Highly Sensitive and the Insensitive

There are many more types and they all have a complimentary nature to them. Recognizing them is usually fairly easy as well. Just look for someone who seems to give a lot to the relationship but never receives enough. Toxic relationships such as this almost always build resentment because the giver becomes tires of always trying to satisfy the needs of the taker. 

It’s the perfect imbalance of love and energy.

No matter what type of codependent relationship it is, the theme is usually the same: The dysfunctional behavior of one person supports the dysfunctional behavior of another.

(after you read this article, be sure to tune into the Love and Abuse podcast for more on unhealthy relationship behaviors)
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Surviving Infidelity – An Overlooked Warning Sign and Healing After Cheating

Infidelity can be one of the most painful experiences you can have next to losing a child. The pain that is created by the betrayal is nearly unbearable, and much healing is needed afterward, whether you stay in the relationship or not.

In this article, I talk about one sign you need to pay attention to most when you suspect cheating in your relationship. Then after an affair is discovered, the emotional wounding that takes place will need mending and healing.

(after you read this article, be sure to tune into the Love and Abuse podcast for more on infidelity and navigating the difficult relationship)

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Releasing Emotional Triggers in Relationships

emotional triggers

Emotional triggers are the surprises that we get when someone we love, or a situation, causes us to have a reaction that we haven’t processed yet.

For example, if you were yelled at as a child and you attached being yelled at to fear, you might get triggered as an adult when you are near someone yelling.

Triggers are typically childhood beliefs that aren’t necessarily true anymore and need to be addressed to save your relationships. Once you release your old triggers you can view the world from an entirely different place instead of through the eyes of a fearful child.

(after you read this article, be sure to tune into the Love and Abuse podcast for more on emotional triggers in relationships)

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Letting Go of Attachments Part 2

balloon

We talk about letting go of the deeper, emotional attachments we have in our life in this second part of a two-part episode.

From sentimental attachments to people. The main focus of this episode is about the romantic relationships we can have trouble letting go of.

This is a deep and complex episode, and there are so many ways to approach this sensitive topic. But if you can get beyond the attachments that are holding you back and keeping you down, you will have a deeply fulfilling and happy life.

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The Decision to Leave or Stay in the Relationship

Can you accept the behaviors of those you love? If not, are you still in the relationship?

You have a choice to walk away from the behaviors you can’t accept in life, or stay and accept them. In the end, what you really want is closure. Knowing the direction you need to take is a much more powerful place than waiting for something to happen. Lingering is no fun.

Click on the play button above the video to listen to the entire episode or choose to read it below. By the time you’re done, you’ll know if you’ve reached full acceptance of the people in your life, and if you are choosing to suffer or not.

When it comes to accepting what is, or not accepting, one choice leads to suffering and the other does not. [Read more…]