Codependency isn’t a cultural or societal difference. It’s a mental and behavioral health issue, often the result of an unstable family home growing up (but can be from other things). It’s an extreme form of dependence on another.. for everything, all the time. Some view it as a form of manipulation because the reliant one will use guilt to get the other person to do what they want. It truly is take, take, take, and no/ very little give.

And yes life has challenges where you need to lean on someone for help, but that isn’t remotely the same as codependency.