Asia Pacific Journal of Multidisciplinary Research | Vol. 2, No. 2 | April 2014 _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 66 P-ISSN 2350-7756 | E-ISSN 2350-8442 | www.apjmr.com Codependents of Recovering Addicts: Exploring Their Level of Depression and Self-Esteem AIMEE ROSE A. ARGUELLES – MANDA, MA Psych Master of Arts in Psychology, Graduate School, Lyceum of the Philippines University, Batangas City PHILIPPINES Abstract - Addiction is a family disease. It causes members of a family to develop coping methods that help them interact with one another. This descriptive study explored the relationship between level of depression and self-esteem of 30 codependents of recovering addicts. Respondents are mostly in their midlife, married, and college graduate females who were spouses or wives of recovering addicts. Majority of them experience low levels of depression while only minimal are clinically depressed. As for self esteem, half of the respondents had moderately low levels while the other half had either mildly low or severely low levels. Results show there is no significant relationship between the level of depression and self esteem of codependents of recovering addicts and that depression doesn’t really equate into a low level of self esteem. This research recommends that a more in-depth research be done to explore more contributing factors on the level of self- esteem of Codependents including a comparative study on those who have dependents still in active addiction. Aside from this, institutions involved such as schools, counselors and rehabilitation centers educate families and children of codependents at a young age about addiction as a disease and use the findings of this study to come up with more supportive programs for the family. Keywords - Co-dependent, Recovering Addicts, Depression, Self – Esteem I. INTRODUCTION Substance abuse and dependence started long ago, as early as the 1930’s. Many has used mind or mood altering substance or drugs such as marijuana, cocaine, methamphetamine, to name a few and also the most used and abused, alcohol. In 1956, the American Medical Association (AMA) declared that alcoholism is a disease and that it is treatable. Scientific evidence that the abuse of alcohol and other drugs actually changes the brain’s chemistry and structure to create what is called “a disease state.” Addiction was described as a “brain disease.” Abusing alcohol and other drugs compels one to act against their own will and values, risk important relationships, and shirk significant responsibilities. These are signs that one has a disease and needs help. These are reasons why family or even the addict himself seeks help for treatment. Drug abuse and addiction continue to be among the largest and most challenging health and social problems facing our society. They affect both well-being of the individual and the health of the public. Drug addiction appears to be on the rise in the Philippines. There are believed to be as many as 6.7 million drug abusers according to figures from 2004- this is a dramatic increase from 1972 when there was only believed to have been around 20,000 drug users in the Philippines (DARA, 2013). The good news in this negative public health scenario is that breakthrough discoveries in science continue to refine my understanding of drug abuse and addiction, and this exciting research is leading to more effective science-based strategies for their prevention and treatment. Addiction (whether to drugs or alcohol) affects everyone in the family, that is why it’s commonly referred to as a “family disease”(Frederiksen, 2012). It causes members of a family to develop coping methods that help them interact with one another because no one really knows, understands and/or is willing to admit, let alone confront, the underlying problem – that substance misuse has changed the way their loved ones think, how they feel, what they say and what they do. Addiction in the family is not that easy to accept, so much more deal with it. The addict and the family must cope with the prejudices and the stigma of the disease. Thus, seldom does the family seek immediately for help unless they have hit hard bottom. However, the pain the addict feels is often used to downplay or even trivialize the pain his or her family feels. How often have such family members denied their own problems, telling themselves, “I have to put on a brave face,” or “I shouldn’t be feeling this way – so-and-so is going through a rough time. I don’t have the right to complain”.