What you need to know about emotional entanglement and the deadly consequences of sharing … [+]
We all know those couples who seem to do everything together: they share Instagram profiles, complement each other’s writing, and seem to be “always together.” While many people admire and adore couples who spend as much time together as possible, sometimes this trend hides something more sinister.
Couples who do not live separate lives outside of the relationship can fall into a codependent mentality. Codependency It’s emotional or psychological overdependence on one’s partner. Mild codependency is common and usually nothing to worry about, but sometimes it can go too far.
One of the dangers of a highly codependent relationship is the possibility of a mental disorder called folie à deux.Madness of Two” and involves the transmission of delusional beliefs within intimate relationships. Codependency and this type of shared psychopathology are interconnected and co-occurring phenomena.
Folie à deux: Falling into a shared delusion
One of the most famous cases of alleged folie à deu was Burari’s Dead In India, a family of 11 committed mass suicide due to a “shared psychopathic belief” led by the family’s youngest son, a shocking incident that has spawned a Netflix documentary. House of Secrets: Death of Burari In 2021.
The term folie à deu was first described by French psychiatrists Charles Laségue-Jour and Farlet in 1877. It refers to a rare psychiatric syndrome in which psychotic symptoms, especially delusions, are transmitted from one individual to another.
In 1979, the book Rare psychiatric syndromes The disorder is described as occurring in intimate relationships where one partner, usually perceived as dominant, influences the beliefs and perceptions of the other partner. This can prove dangerous if the dominant partner shows signs of mental illness and the submissive person lacks the critical thinking to counter it. This can lead to the submissive partner participating in irrational behaviors.
Codependency and the crazy interactions of two people
Codependent relationships can create an environment where people share delusional beliefs. study As noted, the problem arises from the tendency of the subordinate partner to prioritize the dominant partner’s needs and adapt his or her worldview, which creates fertile ground for the transmission of irrational ideas.
In many codependent relationships, there is a leader and a follower. The follower partner, with their low self-esteem, difficulty setting boundaries, and need for approval, is more likely to accept the primary partner’s delusional beliefs, even when they are dangerous.
The fact that codependent partners’ lives are completely intertwined with one another makes the situation even worse: Their isolation can contribute to maintaining their shared delusion, reinforcing their distorted views of each other as couples become increasingly detached from external reality and social connections.
Treatment approaches and challenges
Treating codependency-related folie à deu poses unique challenges, especially when these conditions occur together. studyPrimary interventions often involve separation of the individuals to break the reinforcing cycle of delusions. This separation can be difficult for codependents who derive their self-esteem from their relationships.
Pharmacological interventions such as antipsychotics are typically used to address psychotic symptoms in the primary individual. In the case of codependency, treatment focuses on addressing the underlying psychological issues and promoting healthier relationship patterns.
Not all codependent relationships lead to shared mental illness. The intersection of codependency and two-person romantic relationships is a complex area of study. Examining these conditions can provide valuable insight into the power of relationships to influence mental health and the potential dangers of becoming too dependent on one another.
Not sure if your relationship is healthy or unhealthy? Relationship Control Scale To get answers based on scientific evidence.
