Codependency Support Group
Codependency is defined as someone who exhibits too much, and often inappropriate, caring for another person's struggles. A codependent person may try to change, or feel shame about their most private thoughts and feelings if they conflict with the other person's struggles. If you are on a journey towards self-love, this support group is for you. Join us and find others...
I think Narcissistic and Codependent are a lot alike, they both have a self-loathing. One the Narcissistic, using people and gets their Narcissistic supply from people, which makes them like themselves better. The codependent, tries to please people, they think if they can help people or just do what the other people wants, they person will love them. Both are just one side of the same coin, that's why Narcissistic and Codependent, attract each other. They both need other people to feel better, about themselves, one is basically morally and the other is unmoral.
Codependents and Narcissists might look the same from the surface. But their intentions and effects on other are very different. Their ability to heal and even seek treatment are completely different as well.
Take a situation SAY, with a family member who is addicted to drugs or alcohol.
The addict asks for money.
BOTH the codependent and the narcissist have boundaries to never give money to the addict.
They know that it will be directly or indirectly used to further their addiction. They know that it is bad to give this addict money in any form.
BOTH choose to give the money anyway.
The codependent looks at themselves and considers why and chooses to stick to their boundary in the future. They realize that they themselves made the mistake.
The narcissist claims that asking for money is abusive. The addict was totally at fault for even asking. They take no responsibility for their own choice. Then they vilify the addict and become abusive demanding that the addict be responsible for the actions of the narcissist. Adding to the abuse, they entice any and all who will listen to believe that the addict is abusive. When they met someone who points out that there is a choice to NOT give money, they vilify that person as well and write them off. They simply cant accept responsibility.
The codependent has the possibility of changing their behavior. Since they see their actions as choices they make, they can choose to be less abusive in the future.
The narcissist has no possible way of healing. They want to see the problem as belonging to someone else. They place the blame on others for their own choices. Anyone who disagrees will be attack and blamed as well.
Narcissists are manipulative to meets their own selfish needs. Codependents are manipulative in an effort to help others or make a situation better for everyone.
There are major differences in the effects of the abuses.
There will always be crossover. Humans are variable. That makes this stuff challenging.
Codependent people simply do not like to admit that we have the problem in our self, and that problem is called narcissism.
To treat either is the same way, and to heal either is the same way, and when the treatment is the same then the diagnosis are just synonymous words.