Codependency refers to a dysfunctional pattern of prioritising your partner's needs above your own and losing your sense of self in the process. Each partner in a relationship who is dependent on the other on a mental, emotional, physical, and/or spiritual level is said to be codependent. Codependent relationships frequently result in problematic relationship patterns and can exist not only between romantic partners but also with family and friends.

Although it is healthy to compromise, continually taking responsibility and putting others' needs before your own may result in neglect and unfulfilling relationships. In some cases, codependency can be defined as a relationship in which two people unconsciously become so invested in each other that they can't function independently, which is common when one or both partners have abandonment and addiction issues. 

When one of two persons develops an addiction, codependency is a dynamic that frequently arises. In the relationship, one person is unhealthily dependent on the other, and the other person is needy and will go to any lengths to appease their lover. Codependency is characterised by a reciprocal need for the other person, who in turn needs to be needed. The enabler, also known as "the taker," makes sacrifices for the codependent person, sometimes known as "the giver," who feels worthless without them.

Codependent warning signs include excessive reliance on other people for approval and encouragement; difficulty establishing and upholding boundaries; the need for the other to satisfy one's wants; and the desire to spend a lot of time together, attempting to influence or alter the behaviour of the other person and avoiding tough conversations in order to protect the other person.