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Episode 2908:

Sara Stanizai explores how extreme family dependency and codependent friendships often masquerade as closeness while masking deep dysfunction. She outlines clear signs to look for, like blurred boundaries, emotional fatigue, and unhealthy control, and offers tools like journaling, boundary-setting, and therapy to help you reclaim your autonomy and build healthier, more sustainable relationships.

Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.prospecttherapy.com/blog/2023/1/27/how-to-deal-with-extreme-family-dependency & https://www.prospecttherapy.com/blog/2023/1/20/part-1-spotting-codependency-in-friendships

Quotes to ponder:

"You can't choose your family. It's fair even to say that you can't choose what qualities and characteristics you inherit from your family."

"Dependency can take on a form of loving and passive behavior, but also anger and manipulation."

"Neither the victim nor the fixer are sustainable roles in a friendship."

2908: How to Deal With Extreme Family Dependency AND Spotting Codependency in Friendships by Sara Stanizai on Balanced Connection