Enmeshment is a codependent relationship between two or more people within a family unit. It’s characterized by an excessive emotional involvement and overly close attachment between parents and their children—or between siblings—which causes difficulty establishing individual identity or independence from one another. This can happen when parents are overprotective or when they place too much emphasis on togetherness. For example, if parents are always putting pressure on their child to do things as a family instead of encouraging individual pursuits and interests, this could be considered enmeshed behavior. The following behaviors may indicate that someone is living in an enmeshed family: