Full Moon Clarity on Codependency
The full moon does a number on me — but it brings fresh insights.
My life over the past few years has been a steady flow of life altering realizations, and I can thank the full moon for it.
That sounds hippy-ish, which I have no problem owning — I am a hippy at heart. I just still shave my armpits and wouldn’t pass up vintage Chanel if I came across it.
But let me explain further: not all of these realizations are “holy shit — are you kidding me?!” moments. Some are “Gee, I never thought of it that way” situations.
Although lately, there have been much more core-rattling, soul-freeing recognitions than minor insights. And it’s been intense.
Usually, the most extraordinary moments of wake-the-fuck-up clarity come after a period of severe mental and emotional shutdown. I’m talking, I-shouldn’t-be-allowed-in-public kind of terrible. These are the days that, no matter what I do, nothing appears to be powerful enough to shake the overall shittiness I feel.
So I just try to stay away from people, read uplifting books, stretch and meditate, and stay the F away from social media. Because I’m way too volatile to handle random DMs well on those days.
Did I mention this next-level doom I find myself consumed by always coincides with the full moon?
Years ago, if you had mentioned anything about the full moon being responsible for my problems I would have given you my are-you-fucking-kidding-me look and called you a weirdo as soon as you left.
But nowadays there is no denying it: the full moon brings out the emotional instability in me.
There is, however, some glory on the other end of these periods of despair. I ALWAYS come out with something solid; like a golden bar of guidance which was only achievable and attained through a period of wretchedness.
So yeah, the shit brings gold. And here I am with another bar of it, after the full moon that has just passed. This month’s golden wisdom?
My co-dependent relationship with my mom needs to end because it’s causing us both a lot of pain.
This is a huge one for me because I keep holding onto this image of us being BFFs, and being in sync and relating on every level. I’ve been wanting this to be the reality for years, even though I know in my heart it’s never going to happen. And this past weekend has finally pushed me outside the bubble of that dream and into reality.
We are very different people. We clash quite a bit, and I find myself irritated and annoyed and often times insulted more often than not.
And it’s my own fault because I keep coming to her about everything — not because it’s necessary but because I am so used to doing so. Some days I get so excited about things I’ve learned I want to share everything with her, in real time, and forget the fact that she’s just not into the things I’m excited about.
In reality, much of what I share with her could do without being said; there is no need for me to talk to her about everything and anything. I just do it because it’s what I’ve always done.
On her end, I’m sure she get’s annoyed with me. In fact, I know she does, because she has a tendancy to zone out when I’m talking to her. As I said before, she just isn’t that into what I have to say. But she still relies on me as her main source of companionship, which is proving to be super unhealthy and we both know it. In fact, we’ve both admitted it, on multiple occasions.
I feel she needs some acquaintances with similar interests. Because people need to connect with other people, or else the get depressed and I know that first hand. But I can’t be the sole source for connection. I don’t have it in me to be that, and what’s more, it’s not fair. That’s too much pressure: to be my parent’s everything.
And it’s not possible for me to fulfill that role either, at least not well, because at our cores, we are very different people. I wish it weren’t the case because I’d love her to understand me more and get what I’m trying to do with my life: evolve and become a more conscious human being. And I’m sure she wishes I understood her more as well and was more agreeable with her words, actions, and decisions.
But here we are, two people relying on each other way too much, and it’s not working anymore because we just don’t fucking relate.
Yesterday this wild aha moment came to me: you cannot evolve into the person you are destined to be if you stay in this state — in this codependent relationship. The longer you stay in this dysfunction the more both of you will suffer. You have to stop being so desperate to connect with your mother over everything and anything because she will never relate to you to the level you want her to, and vice versa. To do so — to endlessly hope for the impossible — is to suffer. Do you want to suffer?
The short answer is no, I don’t want to suffer. And I don’t want my mom to suffer. I think my worries about her suffering is what got us here in the first place (did I mention we are in a time out at the moment?)
I worry about her. I feel bad that she has no partner; that she has no one to go to tea with but me. I feel guilty that she isn’t happier and healthier.; that she doesn’t take any ownership for where she is in her life.
I also feel bad that I don’t relate to her as much as I’d like to. But you know what I really want? I want my space. I want to feel free to be myself, 100%, without the old school comments that, with a snap of the finger, make me feel less than.
I want to not feel responsible for her isolated way of living, and for her lack of connection with others.
I want to not feel like I owe her all of me, all the time.
What do I know I need to do?
I need to stop the constant check ins, and excessive amounts of time spent with her. I do not need to have lunch with her 3 times a week or invite her on every single walk.
I need to acknowledge that just because she doesn’t value me the way I want her to, doesn’t mean I’m not of value.
I need to accept that she doesn’t get me, or what I’m trying to do, or who I endeavor to be.
I need to give her space and time, so she can fill it in with activities and people that are closer suited to her personality and beliefs.
I need to do away with the dream that she will be kind to me all the time. And I need to accept that sometimes I need my space, and when I do I should stay far away from her because when don’t, I can be a righteous bitch. That never feels good.
I need to admit that my incessant need to run things by her and have her understand me is not working. Some things she is never going to understand, and that’s OK.
I need to realize that the longer I feel bad for her and fill up her days with my voice and my presence, the longer she will abstain from connection with anyone outside of me.
Sounds like I know what I need to do. Time to give us both some breathing room, and stop trying to take responsibility for someone else’s happiness (damn these pesky control issues! lol!)
Of course, I’ll always be there for her. And it’s not that I won’t go out for lunch and chat with her and make time to be there for her and help her.
But for the sake of both of us, the codependency has to come to an end. Time to cut the chord, and I can thank the full moon for that realization.
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Andrea Scoretz is a Huffington Post blogger and freelance writer who creates soul-centric blog posts and newsletters for health and wellness coaches. Check her out via mustlovecrows.com
