What does it mean when a relationship is co-dependent?

[freethought]

I hear this term getting batted around left and right but have never understood what it means.
Can someone please give the naive a little info please?

[Midlodemocrat]

1. It means each partner is dependent on the other to

get some type of reinforcement.

Example: The co-dependent wife of an alcoholic husband 'needs' to stay with him out of a sense that he cannot manage on his own and if something happened she would feel guilty.

Stuff like that.

[freethought]

2. Aaah, I see!

Given in the context I have heard the term so many times it makes perfect sense now!!

Thank You Much!!

[Midlodemocrat]

3. My pleasure.

And, obviously, there are varying degrees of co-dependency.