I have been reflecting on the tragedy of having an addiction for the last few chapters, and now I want to turn my attention to those who are in a relationship with an addict, and even more broadly examine the dysfunctional patterns that created through association with addicts. The term “codependency” was originally associated with a person in a relationship with an alcoholic. Over the years, the term has expanded to include any person in a relationship that exhibits dysfunctional patterns of living. Co-addicts learn ways of acting and reacting when relating to an addicted person (similar to those in relationships with someone who is affected by mental illness or is abusive). Living in dysfunctional or traumatic environments sets up a pattern whereby a person’s way of being in the world is contingent upon the behavior of others. This is especially likely to occur if a person is unstable in some way to begin with.