Why Co-Dependence Isn’t Just About “Being Too Nice” — And What We Can Do About It

Co-dependence often hides in plain sight.

It can look like care, generosity, and loyalty, qualities we’re often praised for. But underneath, it may stem from early experiences where love felt conditional or where we had to attune to others to stay safe or accepted.

Over time, this can create patterns of people-pleasing, over-functioning, difficulty setting boundaries, or feeling responsible for others’ emotions.

In my counselling work, I often support adults and parents who feel burnt out, disconnected, or frustrated, not because they don’t care, but because they’ve cared at the expense of themselves for too long.

The good news?
These patterns aren’t who you are, they’re how you’ve learned to cope. With awareness, nervous system support, and gentle repatterning, you can learn to stay connected to others without abandoning yourself.

This is the heart of relational healing, learning to hold your own needs alongside others’, and relating from a place of wholeness, not survival.

Whether you’re navigating relationships, parenting, identity shifts or your own sense of self, change is possible. And it begins within.

📍Counselling for adults, teens, and parents
🧠 Supporting attachment, anxiety, overwhelm + ADHD
📍Based in Sydney | Online available Australia-wide

Visit www.steadywithin.com.au to learn more.