Some people’s self-esteem becomes so intertwined with money that when they suffer major losses they entertain suicidal thoughts as a function of shame, humiliation, and helplessness. If you base your essential human value on your net worth, your compensation package, and/or your production as compared to your colleagues then your sense of self can be easily threatened by external forces, and panic and even terror can set in when the market is “not going your way.” Markets constantly change—regardless of what you do.
Below is a list of Characteristics of Co-dependent People [1]:
- An exaggerated sense of responsibility for the actions of others
- A tendency to confuse love and pity, with the tendency to “love” people they can pity and rescue
- A tendency to do more than their share, all of the time
- A tendency to become hurt when people don’t recognize their efforts
- An unhealthy dependence on relationships. The co-dependent will do anything to hold on to a relationship; to avoid the feeling of abandonment
- An extreme need for approval and recognition
- A sense of guilt when asserting themselves
- A compelling need to control others
- Lack of trust in self and/or others
- Fear of being abandoned or alone
- Difficulty identifying feelings
- Rigidity/difficulty adjusting to change
- Problems with intimacy/boundaries
- Chronic anger
- Lying/dishonesty/deception
- Poor communications
- Difficulty making decisions
[1] List compiled by Mental Health America, formerly known as the National Mental Health Association.