Treatment of Codependencn Switzerland

CorSwiss, in partnership with one of the world's leading rehabilitation centers, Kusnacht Practice, organizes the treatment of codependency in Switzerland at the highest level.

As codependency often has its roots in childhood, treatment often involves exploring issues from early childhood and their connection to current destructive behavior patterns. Treatment allows codependent individuals to reacquaint themselves with their own identity and identify self-destructive behavior patterns. It is also aimed at uncovering feelings that were suppressed in childhood and restoring family dynamics. The goal is to reexperience the full range of emotions.

Codependents and their families must undergo changes and growth in their relationships. It is essential to identify and cease any caregiving that leads to or may perpetuate dependency or abuse. Codependents must become aware of and learn to manage their feelings. They must learn to say "no," be loving yet firm, and become self-assured. After recovery, codependents can attain freedom and serenity.

Symptoms of codependency

1. The desire to control or "fix" situations
2. The desire to control or "fix" other people
3. Blaming situations and other people for your feelings
4. Difficulty trusting other people
5. Perfectionism
6. Avoiding your true feelings
7. Issues with or fear of intimacy
8. Hypervigilance (heightened awareness of potential threats/dangers)
9. Life through, or, for another person. The specialists at the Küsnacht Clinic understand the difficulties and traumas faced by the families and loved ones of our clients. We believe they need treatment just as much as our clients do. Accordingly, we highly recommend our Family Program, which not only allows family members to support their loved ones during their treatment at our clinic, but also allows us to provide support and treatment to them themselves. In addition, we offer a complete treatment program for people who are experiencing codependency issues and need help.

Who is affected by codependency?

Codependency most commonly affects a spouse, parent, sibling, friend, or colleague of an individual suffering from alcohol or substance addiction. Originally, the term codependency was used in relation to partners of chemically dependent people, individuals living with or involved with someone struggling with addiction. Similar tendencies have been observed in people connected to individuals with chronic or mental health issues. However, currently, the term is applied to define anyone who is codependent in any dysfunctional family or relationship.

Dysfunctional family and its impact on the development of codependency

A dysfunctional family is a family whose members are dealing with fear, anger, pain, or shame while ignoring or denying these issues. The problems in such families can stem from various factors, including:

1. Dependency of a family member on substances like drugs or alcohol, relationships, work, food, sex, or gambling.
2. The presence of physical, emotional, or sexual abuse.
3. Having a family member suffering from chronic mental or physical illness.

Dysfunctional families often fail to acknowledge or address these problems. They avoid discussing them and don't confront the issues. Consequently, family members learn to suppress emotions and disregard their own needs. They become "survivors" and develop behavioral patterns to deny, ignore, or avoid complex emotions. They withdraw. They don't talk. They don't touch. They don't resist. They don't feel. They don't trust.

The emotional development of members in dysfunctional families is often stifled.

Attention and energy are directed towards the needy family member. Codependent individuals typically sacrifice their own needs to care for the needy person. When codependents prioritize someone else's health, well-being, and safety above their own, they lose touch with their own needs, desires, and self-perception.

How do codependent people behave?

Codependent individuals often have low self-esteem and try to find something in the external world to feel better. They find it challenging to "be themselves." Some may attempt to feel better by using alcohol and drugs, leading to addiction. Others may develop compulsive behaviors such as workaholism, gambling, sexual or romantic addiction.

Codependents have good intentions. They try to care for someone who is struggling, but their care becomes intrusive and destructive. They often take on a martyr's role and become "saviors" for those in need. The problem is that their repetitive rescue attempts enable the person in need to remain on a destructive path, making them even more dependent on the unhealthy care from the "benefactor." The codependent person develops a sense of reward and satisfaction from their "neediness." When care becomes compulsive, the codependent feels devoid of choice and helpless in relationships but cannot break free from this behavioral cycle.

The impact of codependency on the family

The first step in changing unhealthy behavior is understanding it. For codependent individuals and, when possible, their family members, it's essential to study the process and cycle of addiction and how it affects their relationships.

Codependent individuals and their families need significant change and growth. Any behavior that enables abuse to continue must be recognized and stopped. Codependent individuals must identify and accept their own feelings and needs. This may involve learning how to say no, being loving but firm, and becoming self-reliant. In recovery, codependent individuals can find freedom, love, and peace.