That's what brought me to a therapist initially - depression - although I didn't realize it at the time; I thought all my problems were due to my STBX's drinking problem and anger issues. That's when I was diagnosed with depression, and codependency. They usually go hand in hand as we tend to get depressed when we have trouble controlling others' lives. I wanted my STBX to stop drinking so he wouldn't be angry anymore. But I can't control him; he quit briefly, but was still angry, and going through withdrawal! Still didn't want to be around him! That made me depressed. It's hard when all you see is yourself trying to help them be better people, but they don't necessarily see anything wrong with themselves. Then we have the problem! I don't personally think it's any more of a mental illness than depression, although I guess some depression can be a mental illness.

Did you have to temporarily have help with medication for the meds. I am trying to see therapist, which I have before, but in the meantime need a little hope.

I would say for me, co-dependancy comes as part of my depression. I get depressed then struggle with self esteem then tire myself out either trying to do everything for those around me or trying to figure out how i can be liked by everyone analysing every word spoken. I have codependancy tendancies but they get worse when i get depressed, i think the co-da is one of the first symptoms i notice when i start to get poorly. I believe depression is a mental illness. I've not met many people with codependancy who don't also suffer with bouts of depression.
There's not many people who would choose to suffer with codependancy so i would say it is a form of mental illness, it's definately makes me think I'm going mad sometimes!

I see Recovey as a codependent a spiritual enlightenment process. Look at any Meditation or Yoga or Zen ( As ancient they are) they all aim at looking at your inner self. Still your mind.

As codependent i have always been on edge i am always thinking.. I wasn't even sure that some of the reactions or behaviors are from the abuse from childhood. I learned it now focusing it on let go.

In my knowledge i feel 90% are codependent some way or other ranging from mild to severe. I may fall in sever category because of my past and I only can stop this karma to go around and come back around through change of my behaviors that were just an outcome of bad thoughts and feelings.

How many do you see are in path of Self Realization... I am proud to be one. That being said I dont think its a mental illness its just a pattern i aquired by living around dysfunctional people .

I agree with #4 - I think it's a pattern, not an illness. No, I wasn't recommended medication, and I wouldn't have taken them if I was. I never felt I needed them. Initially sought therapy because my marriage sucked and I wanted help sorting out my feelings about whether to stay or go. It gave me great clarity. I look at mental illness as something that you acquire through no fault of your own (like a birth defect) and live with it all your life. I don't believe I was born this way, but that circumstances in my childhood contributed to how I am. I could also have grown up completely normal, but I did what I felt I had to do to survive my father's verbal abuse and my mother letting it happen. I truly hope I don't live the rest of my life this way. Although I suppose I will always have to be careful about falling into a bad pattern, I do believe there is an end to it.

Hi, 4everyoung1,

I have co-dependency. I also have bipolar disorder 2, with mostly depression. I take medicine to control bipolar symptoms. I think co-dependency is a result of living with dysfunctional family. I just hope that I can get over it some way. I wish you the very best! GOD BLESS YOU!!!!!

I think it can tie into mental illness for sure. It did with me. Codependency can dealt with by itself thru therapy/support groups. It happens to be the least of my problems because you can learn skills to counteract the learned behaviors of codependency. I can see why depression may go along because not having learned healthy boundary setting, what safe people look like, having low self esteem due to not feeling like you can make it on your own..or feeling you have to rescue people and caretake all the time (feeling run over) isn't good for your self worth either..so this would cause depression in and of itself.

Some people can learn the skills and the depression lifts.

Some people find the depression may not lift. But lots of things can cause depression...are you grieving over a loss? That can surely cause depression but not forever.

Now bipolar1, NOS bipolar, and bipolar2 are disorders that stay with people no matter if you successfully treat your codependency issues. Bipolar stays with people for life.

SAD may be controlled possibly if someone moved to sunny part of the world and got more light.

Bipolar 1 still experiences depression but its a naturally occuring along with devastating mania. There are other dxs like personality disorders or affective disorders that also may need lifetime treatment.

You may just have temporary depression that could possibly lift if your codependency issues clear up. That is good to know. If you happen to have depression that is clinical and doesn't lift there are skills you can learn to make life a much nicer place to live.

I don't know about it being a mental illness, but I do believe it can trigger other illness. I too suffered from depression, and even though I don't know what order my illnesses came from, I have dealt with them one by one, in different ways. My depression had a huge effect on my family. I'm fortunate they stuck by me, and I have been successfully off AD's for a long time...I think two years now. I have no desire to be there again, but my codep is the issue that will tip that - I know now, clearly, that I have to keep it (codep) in check in order to balance myself. I need to watch the signs and be aware of when I'm overwhelmed, when I irritated, feeling down, etc. otherwise, I know the likliness of me falling back into depression is higher than most. It's a cycle, but I'm convinced, one I can break...in time. :)

Please know this is just my opinion but to me a mental illness is something that is treated chemically because there is a chemical imbalance in the person.
However with codependency it is more about detrimental learned behaviour patterns that are brought on by certain circumstances in a person's life. And with practice of healthier behaviour patterns and learning to look at life with a different perspective we can overcome the codependency so that we can live happier more normal lives.