How To Not Be Codependent

Overview:

In this episode we discuss codependency by answering the following questions:

• What is codependency?

• Where does codependency come from?

• What are the symptoms of codependency?

• How to overcome codependency?

What is codependency?

Dr. Dean Robb describes codependency as 2 incomplete people who are trying to fix themselves through another person.

What are the symptoms of codependency?

Do you know these two James Taylor songs?  Johnny Comes Back & Be As You Are?  Dr. Robb reads the lyrics and shares how they are codependency for him.

Johnny Comes Back

Be As You Are

Where does codependency come from?

Children are needy.  Adults need to focus on the child and helping meet their needs.  When this is done, humans can grow up having a sense of safety.  Unfortunately, so many parents and adults are not whole and are not able to give their children the emotional support that the child needs.  This can develop into codependency as we grow up.

How to heal codependency?  How to not be codependent.

Shame is at the core of codependency. One has to realize that emotionally, this will not work for me. They have to be willing to embrace the shame and start working through the emotions and beliefs they have.

Emotionally detach from that person who you are holding onto.

Have your own sense of identity, self-worth.

Find a way to feel safe in the world.

This journey does not happen overnight.

Remember “No.” is a complete sentence.

Resources:

Al-Anon: Al-Anon is a great place to find more education and support.  Click here to find a meeting near you.

Dr. Robb can be reached at drrobb@nextstagerecovery.com, by phone at 908-922-3009 or 908-757-4721, on the internet at www.NextStageRecovery.com, on Facebook at  facebook.com/nextstagerecovery, and on Twitter at @RecoverWithDean.

This is the 5th in a series of 6 episodes with Dr. Dean Robb.  Did you hear the others?

• Episode 39: “Realizing Your Potential in Recovery“
• Episode 40: “Discovering Your Inner Gold by Doing the Work”
• Episode 41: “What is Emotional Sobriety?“
• Episode 42: “Renewal: Hitting a New Bottom & Starting Over”
• Coming Soon | Episode 44: “Developing Mature, Healthy, Balanced Relationships in Recovery”
• Bonus Episode – Did you hear the 1st podcast we did together?  Dr. Robb & I went really deep into how PTSD and Emotional Trauma from Childhood needs to be addressed if someone wants to truly recover from addiction.

Thank You For Listening

Special thanks to Dr. Robb for joining me this week.  Until next time!

Comments

comments