Codependency is another popular and overused term today. Yet the syndrome of codependency continues to cause problems in people's lives. Codependence means that one person has been so controlled and consumed by another person’s problem that they develop a set of their own problems revolving around that other person’s problem.
In general the relationship where there is codependency causes excessive dependency and taking on of someone else's responsibilities.
For example: a housewife with alcoholic husband feels confused, anxious and in crisis and tries to get her husband to change because she feels over-responsible and guilty for her husband’s alcoholism. She takes on shame and guilt for her spouse's unacceptable behavior and thus takes on his responsibilities.How might faulty Christian teaching promote codependency? The Christian feels like he or she has to turn the other cheek or go the extra mile in every situation. Or he or she may have a Savior complex in which he/she feels a responsibility to fix every problem which comes along. Christians may promote denial or confrontation of problems for the sake of peace (at-all-costs) vs. speaking the truth in love about taking responsibility. This is part of the reason that families take on dysfunctional roles which emulate the "don’t talk, don’t feel, don’t trust" rules.
Codependent people suffer from these symptoms: