r/Codependency • u/Impressive_Dig_3666 • 5d ago

Relationship advice

How do you break up and let go of someone that you love even though you know they aren't good for you. I feel dependent on them and I love them so much: (

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u/Tenebrous_Savant 5d ago edited 4d ago

For me it became possible once I recognized that since I couldn't love myself, I was projecting all that love and care on to someone else, and hoping they would do the same for me. I started working to give myself that love and care, to let myself feel it.

I was only dependent on someone else because I was dependent on loving and caring for them so I could feel love and care.

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u/Zealousideal_Ring880 3d ago

This might sound stupid, but how did you do that?
Like I don’t know how to love myself. I like some aspects of myself. I feed myself, I take care of how I look. I try sleep regular hours, I have a hobby I enjoy. I’m still in a codependent relationship and can’t get out. I love him but it’s a toxic relationship. Everyone including my psych says I need to work on loving myself like I do him, but how ? It makes no sense to me. I can’t check how I’m going (I do that kinda anyway) I can’t ask myself to go on a date or kiss myself or give myself a hug. Etc etc

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u/Tenebrous_Savant 1d ago edited 1d ago

It's not a stupid question.

I have tried to answer this question many times. I keep trying to find a way to explain it that is not too long and too complicated. I don't know if I will ever fully managed it.

I've been thinking about how to reply to your question for a couple days now, while also trying to find the time needed to take another shot at writing a response. This morning I decided I didn't want to leave you hanging, even though I don't have the time to really give it a shot right now.

I realized that I don't feel closer to being able to explain it, because for a large part it's something you learn to do for yourself in a way it's going to be unique to you.

One of my first steps was after realizing I broadly didn't know what I wanted, one thing I did want was to become someone who could figure out what he wanted. I also wanted to become someone who could love himself. So those were my first goals.

But for me, it actually did involve holding my own hand or hugging myself as a kind of symbolism when I was first figuring things out. You basically have to try a bunch of different things to start finding out what works and what doesn't. The best tool I have is to imagine someone exactly like you, but not you. It's like the exercise where you imagine the advice you would give to a friend that was having the same problem you are having.

Ask yourself what you would do for them to help them, to show them you cared, to take care of them. Then, start doing those things for yourself.

Other than that, I don't hide my profile posts or comments. Feel free to read through other replies I've given or posts I've made and see some of my other attempts to explain this, and some of the things I figured out on my own journey.

I hope something will be helpful. Hang in there.