Love enriches and balances our lives, unlike emotional dependence which taps into our fears and insecurities.
- Emotional dependence is characterized by excessive attachment to one’s partner, to the point of putting the needs of the other before one’s own, and to the detriment of one’s own mental and emotional health.
- True love is based on mutual appreciation, where each person admires and respects the autonomy and freedom of the other. In this type of relationship, mutual trust removes any need for control or possession.
- True love, far from restricting, on the contrary elevates and contributes to personal development, based on solid foundations.
True love and emotional dependence may, at first glance, seem to share common traits, such as an intense desire to be with another. However, their foundations and impacts are diametrically opposed.
How to recognize emotional dependence?
Emotional dependence is characterized by excessive attachment to one’s partner, to the point of putting the needs of the other before one’s own, and to the detriment of one’s own mental and emotional health. In this type of relationship, there is often an intense fear of loneliness, a constant search for validation, and controlling behavior towards the partner.
While true love is based on trust, mutual respect and personal growth, emotional dependence is rooted in a compulsive need for the other, often motivated by low self-esteem and a fear of abandonment. It pushes us to look for assurance and an identity in others that the dependent is unable to grant to himself.
What are the foundations of true love?
The opposite of emotional dependence, true love is based on reciprocal appreciation, where each person admires and respects the autonomy and freedom of the other. In this type of relationship, mutual trust removes any need for control or possession.
To recognize this, certain signs are unmistakable: encouraging each other in personal projects, encouraging the development of each person to enrich the relationship and maintaining open and honest communication. This type of love is nourished by constructive exchanges and mutual support.
How to build healthy relationships?
To cultivate true love and escape the trap of emotional dependence, work on oneself is essential. By increasing one’s self-esteem, recognizing one’s worth independent of any relationship, and developing the ability to be alone without feeling incomplete, it is possible to learn to establish healthy boundaries and communicate effectively with one’s partner.
True love, far from restricting, on the contrary elevates and contributes to personal development, based on solid foundations.
Find out more: “Emotional dependence: Six steps to take charge and act” by Geneviève Krebs.
