Somewhere along the way, codependent became an insult.

In therapy spaces and across mental health TikTok, you might hear it used as shorthand for “clingy” or “needy.” Maybe you’ve seen it used to explain why someone remains in a difficult relationship. Over time, codependency has been framed as something shameful, something to avoid at all costs.

But here’s the truth: codependency is not inherently unhealthy. In fact, it’s deeply human.

Let’s be real for a second. The world is a little crazy right now. Sometimes (ok, maybe a lot of the time) it’s hard to put trust in those who are supposed to be our leaders. Heck, it might be hard to even put our trust in those who are close to us, like our parents, teachers, or community leaders. So what happens when we lose faith in those around us? Those who are supposed to uplift us, protect us, or otherwise help us forward? Why does it matter? And if it does, how do we rebuild that trust?