I can't tell you how many times I have allowed dead weight to attach to me and then allowed myself to get even more deeply and severely attached to the dead weight (which normally was emotional and financial). First I had to get myself emotionally detached from the person (which took a lot of conscious effort to change the way I think and the way I see myself and the world around me). Then I had to cut myself loose financially, sometimes biting the bullet, letting go of a lot of wants and expectations, and having the courage to go it alone, come what may sink or swim.
I've had to do this several times in my life and I can tell you that each time I did it, I learned more, and have gotten smart about not letting myself fall back into that old trap again.
Can't tell you how great it feels to be free of the dead weight and the chains that bound me.