Psychologists defined codependency as an excessive and unhealthy compulsion to rescue and take care of and control people. Codependents are driven by people pleasing, at the risk of neglecting themselves. They live with the false belief that the bad feelings they have (e.g.Fear, anxiety, inadequacy) can be gotten rid of if they can “just do better” or if they can win the approval of certain important people in their life. It was working with the families of alcoholics and other chemically dependent people that first brought codependency to the attention of professionals.