How Is Emotional Dependence Related To Anxiety-depressive Symptoms?

According to the determination theory proposed by (Deci and Ryan, 2000), the subject has three basic psychological needs: competence, autonomy and relationship. The last is that the person is in constant interaction with the environment, is sociable and feels integrated and understood by others, in this way they develop as a human being and try to adapt. This need begins with an act of affection, dedication and generosity towards the other, leaving aside personal interests and social skills, where self-esteem and respect allow a functional relationship.

Emotional dependence arises when this previously stated premise is not applied and respect for both oneself and one’s partner is lost. Since the person who has emotional dependence has that dominant and excessive need for attention and care from the partner and therefore the person adopts behaviors of subjugation, submission, exaggerated attachment and fear of abandonment.

The fact of living in a dysfunctional relationship, where you feel unhappiness, devaluation, insecurity, mistrust, a lot of fear of abandonment, living to please the other, forgetting that you also have your own needs, but for fear of abandonment you give it up. … And this whole situation generates discomfort in the emotional person, which can begin with symptoms of anxiety and as the conflict continues, there comes a point where they already develop depression. or in some cases first it is the other way around, but in the medium and long term so many symptoms of anxiety and depression usually appear.

What is emotional dependence?

Emotional dependence are behaviors associated with the desire to always want to be with the other, to have their support, to feel loved and valued, the search for attention and approval from the partner, trying to maintain the couple’s closeness and therefore He avoids or renounces events that he previously enjoyed and does all of this out of fear of abandonment since he does not want to generate any conflict or discomfort in his partner (Acosta, 2013, Castello, 2000 and Lemos and Londoño, 2006).

According to (Castello, 2005) it indicates that The dependent person presents a pattern of unsatisfied emotional needs that he tries to cover in a maladaptive manner, which generates an internal imbalance and has the characteristic of very low self-esteem and also other factors. All these needs are usually covered by the partner, who idealizes him as someone perfect or powerful and thinks that he cannot face the world if he is not in the company of others (partner).

What are the types of emotional dependence?

From the perspective of (Castello, 2005) there are two types:

From the perspective of the DSM IV.TR., there are two profiles, the demander and the giver, and in general the types of emotional dependence in:

What is emotional dependence like in a couple?

Usually there is an imbalance because one person lets the other make all the decisions. The person who has the attachment lives with great anxiety and panic about a breakup and does everything to prevent the feared thing from happening.

The dependent person always tends to put their partner first, ahead of themselves, their friends and family, which generates distancing from all of them. He tends to idealize his partner a lot, perceiving him as someone perfect, powerful, ideal, which is not real or exists.

What are the causes of emotional dependence?

There are various causes, the most common of which are: low self-esteem, irrational belief system, life traps, insecurity, fear of loneliness, dependent personality disorders, among others.

What is the relationship between anxiety-depressive symptoms and emotional dependence?

According to various studies carried out, they report that a higher score of emotional dependence, greater symptoms of anxiety and depression. The main anxious and depressive symptoms suffered by people with emotional dependence are:

All these symptoms of permanent and prolonged anxiety trigger depression, manifesting symptoms such as: sadness, crying, isolation, insomnia, eating disorders, self-criticism, etc.

What is the treatment?

Treatment is through Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and later Scheme Therapy if required, especially when there are very frequent relapses or recurrences, it is an indicator that there are life traps or early maladaptive schemes.

If you have identified with some or all of the symptoms listed above, I invite you to take the PSYCHOHABITS PROGRAM TO OVERCOME EMOTIONAL DEPENDENCY, it is an integrative program of evidence-based psychotherapy sessions. In addition, Individual or group workshops are also offered online with the same program format with which you can learn healthy interdependence and enjoy your relationships (partner, friendship…).

It is concluded by mentioning that emotional dependence is a problem that precisely because of the imperative need for the partner’s attention, since it ends up presenting anxious and depressive symptoms from mild to more serious levels, it will depend on the score of emotional dependence.

The causes of emotional dependence practically originate in the early stages in the dysfunctional interrelation between the child and their caregivers and attachment figures, parenting with overprotection or in some cases of abandonment, abuse/mistreatment, all of this generates life traps, irrational belief system, low self-esteem, among others.

As for therapeutic interventions, the most optimal thing is to start with CBT and later with Schema Therapy if there is a recurrence of symptoms (anxious, depressive) or the presence of life traps or dependent personality disorder.