**Emotional Fusion**: Sarah and John have been in a romantic relationship for several years. Whenever John is feeling stressed or upset, Sarah immediately absorbs his emotions and feels overwhelmed by them. She becomes consumed with trying to fix his problems and make him feel better, to the point where she neglects her own emotions and needs. Sarah's emotional state becomes entangled with John's, and she struggles to differentiate her own feelings from his. Their relationship is characterized by a constant merging of emotions, with Sarah consistently prioritizing John's emotional well-being over her own.
- When person A is upset, Person B absorbed that emotion/is overwhelmed, and wants to do something to solve the problem.
> [! definition]
> Emotional fusion refers to a blurring of emotional boundaries between individuals, particularly within close relationships. It involves a high level of emotional intensity and a merging of emotions, where the emotions of one person become intertwined with the emotions of another. In emotionally fused relationships, individuals may have difficulty distinguishing their own emotions from those of their partner. They may feel overwhelmed by their partner's emotions or overly reliant on their partner for emotional regulation.
**Enmeshment**: Lisa and Mark are a mother and daughter who have an enmeshed relationship. Lisa heavily relies on Mark for emotional support and often invades his personal boundaries. She consistently involves herself in Mark's decisions, activities, and relationships, leaving him with little room for independence and autonomy. Mark, in turn, struggles to assert his own needs and establish healthy boundaries. Their relationship lacks a clear sense of individual identity, as their lives and emotions are intertwined to an excessive degree. They struggle to differentiate themselves as separate individuals with distinct thoughts, feelings, and desires.
> [!Definition]
> Enmeshment refers to a relational pattern characterized by blurred or weak boundaries between individuals. In an enmeshed relationship, there is a lack of individual autonomy, where personal identities, thoughts, and feelings become intertwined and indistinguishable. Enmeshment often involves a high level of dependence and overinvolvement in each other's lives, leading to a lack of differentiation and healthy separation. Enmeshed individuals may have difficulty asserting their own needs, setting boundaries, or maintaining a sense of self outside of the relationship.
Person A keep making decision for Person B. Person A have a strong need for control.. Person B loses themselves. Cannot assert their own needs.