Codependency, often described as “relationship addiction,” involves placing others’ needs above one’s own to the detriment of personal well-being. Melody Beattie, author of Codependent No More, explains that codependent individuals often experience anxiety, low self-worth, and an excessive need for approval, leading to patterns of over-involvement in others’ problems and an inability to set boundaries. Codependent relationships may be one-sided, where one partner's emotional stability is entirely dependent on the other. To break these patterns, Beattie and therapist Shawn Michael Howard suggest establishing boundaries, prioritizing self-care, and identifying one’s own wants and needs. Support from therapy or groups like Codependents Anonymous can help individuals foster healthier, reciprocal relationships by redirecting care towards themselves and forming balanced connections.