Thank you for your essay. Working on ‘self’ (myself) has been a journey. I’ve been working for 40 years and not finished yet. It’s been fulfilling and as I pull back each layer I find another layer that needs attention. It takes commitment. Sometimes I go forward 5 steps and backward 3 steps, sometimes forward 3 steps and back 4 steps. Remember ‘the joy is in the journey’.
Sara! Thank you. I loved reading this. The power of the slowdown is so real! Reversing codependency is not easy, but reminders like this are so helpful.
Sara, wonderful article. Thank you. As an adult, I started my therapeutic journey (and it was a long one) because I was so co-dependent. Identifying that, helped me slowly, let go of the pain. And, it took a long time for me to figure out who I was without the pain. Thankfully, with the care of care therapy and courage on my part: I was able to figure it out.
'Who I was without the pain,' - ugh. That hit. It's so true - we hold on so tightly to what is killing us, don't we? I'm happy you've found the support you needed - and yes, it's one of the most courageous things you could ever do.
Such a great read, Sara. Thank you. I have a brother with an addiction to alcohol, and at every relapse, I would drop everything to go take care of him and "get him sober" again. He lives in a different city. Is this co-dependency adjacent? Thankfully, with the help of a lovely therapist I've learned to set boundaries but as you wrote, it's not easy!
You're right—it's not easy to break those patterns. It takes courage and strength, which you have in spades. I'm sorry about your brother's situation. What you describe here would be considered full-on codependency. I've done the same thing for so many in my life, completely unaware of what I was doing. I thought I was being a good wife, a good daughter, and a good mother when what I was doing was enabling, which kept both of us stuck. I'm so glad you've found a great therapist to help you navigate. I know it can be heartbreaking - hang in there. ❤️
Thank you for your essay. Working on ‘self’ (myself) has been a journey. I’ve been working for 40 years and not finished yet. It’s been fulfilling and as I pull back each layer I find another layer that needs attention. It takes commitment. Sometimes I go forward 5 steps and backward 3 steps, sometimes forward 3 steps and back 4 steps. Remember ‘the joy is in the journey’.
Sara! Thank you. I loved reading this. The power of the slowdown is so real! Reversing codependency is not easy, but reminders like this are so helpful.
Isn't it, though? It seems counterintuitive sometimes, but slowing down is exactly what's right. ❤️
Sara, wonderful article. Thank you. As an adult, I started my therapeutic journey (and it was a long one) because I was so co-dependent. Identifying that, helped me slowly, let go of the pain. And, it took a long time for me to figure out who I was without the pain. Thankfully, with the care of care therapy and courage on my part: I was able to figure it out.
Thank you.
'Who I was without the pain,' - ugh. That hit. It's so true - we hold on so tightly to what is killing us, don't we? I'm happy you've found the support you needed - and yes, it's one of the most courageous things you could ever do.
Such a great read, Sara. Thank you. I have a brother with an addiction to alcohol, and at every relapse, I would drop everything to go take care of him and "get him sober" again. He lives in a different city. Is this co-dependency adjacent? Thankfully, with the help of a lovely therapist I've learned to set boundaries but as you wrote, it's not easy!
You're right—it's not easy to break those patterns. It takes courage and strength, which you have in spades. I'm sorry about your brother's situation. What you describe here would be considered full-on codependency. I've done the same thing for so many in my life, completely unaware of what I was doing. I thought I was being a good wife, a good daughter, and a good mother when what I was doing was enabling, which kept both of us stuck. I'm so glad you've found a great therapist to help you navigate. I know it can be heartbreaking - hang in there. ❤️