Somewhere along this road we learn about codependence. We hear about it from a friend or a therapist. We see it mentioned in the news. Many of us wonder if codependence describes who we are.
Codependence is a disease that deteriorates our souls. It affects our personal lives, our families, children, friends, relatives, our businesses and careers, our health, and our spiritual growth. It is debilitating, and, if left untreated, causes us to become more destructive to ourselves and others. Many of us come to a point when we must look beyond ourselves for help.
It all begins with an honest look at ourselves…1
Am I Codependent?
Personal crises or unbearable, chronic, emotional pain brought many of us to CoDA. We came to our first meeting feeling hopeless and helpless. We wondered why our efforts to fix ourselves and others were not working, no matter how hard we tried. We had come to a crossroad: continue our old ways of coping or look for a new way out of our pain.
For self evaluation, we offer a list of common attributes and behaviour patterns that CoDA members have observed in our own lives.2
See also
Members shares “Patterns”
Excerpts from Patterns and Characteristics leaflet(1), and Co-Dependents Anonymous, Blue Book(2) may not be reprinted or republished without the express written consent of Co-Dependents Anonymous, Inc. Parts of these documents may be reprinted from the website www.coda.org (CoDA) for use by members of the CoDA Fellowship.
