Codependency explored: a social movement in search of definition and treatment.

This article will explore why so many women, and most recently men, have been diagnosing themselves as codependent. It will be suggested that defining codependency as learned helplessness can provide the needed conceptual base to empower those codependents who are also seeking treatment. Empowerment is needed by those women and men who grew up in the types of dysfunctional families that offer them little protection from dysfunctional family rules. The alcoholic family will be explored as one of the family systems which generates large numbers of those feeling that they are codependent. Treatment guidelines will be offered for working with codependents who also decide on a course of psychotherapy.