4 ways to break free from Emotional Dependency

By Julia Rees, Senior Managing Editor

Posted on 3 min read

4 Ways to Break Free from Emotional Dependency

Welcome back to The Code of Style and this article about 4 ways to Break Free from Emotional Dependency.

Being emotionally dependent on others may lead you to lose your identity, confidence, happiness, and even self-esteem, especially if you fail to take control of your emotional well-being.

Emotionally independent people can be happy from within without depending on others. It takes a lot of strength to break free from the sense of being emotionally dependent on other people, but it is still possible. Do you find yourself holding on to an unhealthy relationship? Are you constantly seeking validation and comfort from others? Here are a few ways to gain control of your emotional wellbeing:

Learn what makes you vulnerable

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Every human being is vulnerable in one way or another; but we fail to get to know about our vulnerabilities, as we do our best to block them out or pretend they do not exist. Others believe that their vulnerabilities are a threat to their happiness, and therefore, try to hide them. However, failing to learn about your weaknesses makes it difficult to address them. Instead, you turn to people or things that can help you forget your weaknesses or fill the void. 

When you learn what makes you vulnerable and dependent, you can find the right solutions. For example, if an uncontrollable sexual appetite is getting you down, consider getting some sex addiction counselling. If you can’t get over trauma from your past, try to see a therapist, or if you’re a victim of substance abuse join a support group to help you deal with your vulnerabilities.

Don’t give others the responsibility of making you happy

The worst thing you can do to your emotional health is allowing others to determine how you feel, especially when it comes to your happiness. When you place your happiness in someone else’s hands, you end up relying on them to take care of you. This means gradually losing yourself, as you no longer know how to satisfy your own needs. Take the time to reflect on your emotional needs and how to rely on yourself. For example, if you feel lonely, stressed, or sad, don’t pick up the phone immediately. Instead, experiment with different ways to make yourself feel better. That may take time, but it will be worth it.

Stop seeking other people’s permission

You can improve your independence when you stop asking other people’s permission and approval before going ahead with your plans. Doing this helps you to rely on your sense of judgement and learn from your own mistakes. With time, this helps build your confidence in your decisions and plans without waiting for validation. Asking for opinions is fine, but you should learn to make your own decisions through the opinions you receive.

Practice how to be there for yourself

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Who better to rely on than yourself? Who knows you better than you know yourself? Forming emotional connections with others is healthy, but relying on them to be there for you every time you need them is unhealthy.

Indeed, always needing others to be there for you makes you appear emotionally needy – which most people consider a burden. That is why it is essential to learn how to take care of yourself.

I hope you enjoyed this post about How to break free from emotional dependence and don’t forget to have a look here for some of our other health and wellness posts.

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4 ways to break free from Emotional Dependency