Identity Confusion and Co-Dependency
Are you having trouble knowing yourself and what makes you unique? Do you find that you have difficulty telling your individual feelings and needs apart from others'? If so, you may have issues with identity and co-dependency.
Identity confusion encompasses the feelings of not knowing who you are, lacking a sense of individual personality, feelings and/or thoughts, or depending on others for your sense of self. This often goes hand-in-hand with dependency issues. Dependency on others prevents an individual’s identity from being developed, along with their awareness of unique talents and gifts, and it also prevents true intimacy in relationships. Without these crucial developments, one can feel like they have no purpose in life, can develop other mental health concerns such as depression and anxiety and can find that their relationships are chaotic and/or empty.
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The following are some symptoms of issues with identity / independence / co-dependency.
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Feeling the need to be taken care of
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Fear of abandonment / separation
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Fear of being alone
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Excessive clinginess
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Pessimism
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Self-doubt and lack of self-esteem
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Lack of awareness of / motivation for life goals
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Inability to tell your feelings from others'
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Avoidance of conflict in relationships
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Feeling the need to please others
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Feeling anxiety when others are upset
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Extreme reactivity to criticism
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Seeking dominance and protection from others
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Inability to make decisions
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Anxiety relating to responsibility or guilt
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Difficulty expressing thoughts or opinions
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Constant need to be in a relationship
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Consulting others over every little decision
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Pattern of being in controlling relationships
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Always going along with what others want
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Excessive guilt when not able to please others
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The need to fix others' problems for them
Our therapists are here to help you discover and become the best possible version of yourself. We are so excited to help you learn to let your light shine bright!