Your trusted guide to value yourself and break the patterns of codependency Codependency For Dummies, 2nd Edition is the most comprehensive book on the topic to date. Written in plain English and packed with sensitive, authoritative information, it describes the history, symptoms, causes, and relationship dynamics of codependency. The majority of the book is devoted to healing and lays out a clear plan for recovery with exercises, practical advice, and daily reminders to help you know, honor, protect, and express yourself. New to this edition are chapters on working the Twelve Steps to recover from codependency and how therapists/coaches/nurses are affected by codependency. Codependence is primarily a learned behavior from our family of origin. Some cultures have it to a greater degree than others some still see it as a normal way of living. Yet the costs of codependence can include distrust, faulty expectations, passive-aggressiveness, control, self-neglect, over-focus on others, manipulation, intimacy issues, and a slew of other harmful traits. Codependence causes serious pain and affects the majority of Americans not just women and loved ones of addicts. Codependency For Dummies, 2nd Edition offers authoritative and trusted guidance on ways to raise your self-esteem, detach and let go, set boundaries, recognize healthy vs. dysfunctional relationships, overcome guilt and resentment, and much more. Helps you break the pattern of conduct that keeps you in harmful relationships Provides trusted guidance to create healthy boundaries, coping skills, and expectations Offers advice for eliminating feelings of guilt, blame, and feeling overly responsible Explains the difference between care-giving and codependent care-taking If you're trapped in the cycle of codependency and looking for help, Codependency For Dummies, 2nd Edition offers trusted advice and a clear plan for recovery.

Your trusted guide to value yourself and break the patterns ofcodependencyCodependency For Dummies, 2nd Edition is themost comprehensive book on the topic to date. Written in plainEnglish and packed with sensitive, authoritative information, itdescribes the history, symptoms, causes, and relationship dynamicsof codependency. The majority of the book is devoted to healing andlays out a clear plan for recovery with exercises, practicaladvice, and daily reminders to help you know, honor, protect, andexpress yourself. New to this edition are chapters on working theTwelve Steps to recover from codependency and howtherapists/coaches/nurses are affected by codependency.Codependence is primarily a learned behavior from our family oforigin. Some cultures have it to a greater degree thanothers--some still see it as a normal way of living. Yet thecosts of codependence can include distrust, faulty expectationspassive-aggressiveness, control, self-neglect, over-focus onothers, manipulation, intimacy issues, and a slew of other harmfultraits. Codependence causes serious pain and affects the majorityof Americans--not just women and loved ones of addicts.Codependency For Dummies, 2nd Edition offersauthoritative and trusted guidance on ways to raise yourself-esteem, detach and let go, set boundaries, recognize healthyvs. dysfunctional relationships, overcome guilt and resentment, andmuch more.* Helps you break the pattern of conduct that keeps you inharmful relationships* Provides trusted guidance to create healthy boundaries, copingskills, and expectations* Offers advice for eliminating feelings of guilt, blame, andfeeling overly responsible* Explains the difference between care-giving and codependentcare-takingIf you're trapped in the cycle of codependency and looking forhelp, Codependency For Dummies, 2nd Editionoffers trusted advice and a clear plan for recovery.

Introduction 1Part I: Getting Started on Overcoming Codependency 5Chapter 1: Codependency Hurts 7Chapter 2: Somebody Please Tell Me What Codependency Is 29Chapter 3: Symptoms of Codependency 39Chapter 4: Crossing De-Nile to Recovery 71Chapter 5: So, Are You Codependent? 81Part II: Breakthrough to Recovery -- Healing Yourself 89Chapter 6: Getting Started in Recovery 91Chapter 7: What Made You Codependent? 99Chapter 8: Healing Your Wounds -- Freeing Your Self 121Chapter 9: Welcome to the Real You 139Chapter 10: Building Self-Esteem and Self-Love 155Chapter 11: Finding Pleasure 177Part III: Healing Your Relationships with Others 187Chapter 12: Letting Go and Nonattachment 189Chapter 13: Speaking Up 211Chapter 14: Relating to Your Family, Friends, and Lovers 229Chapter 15: Making Relationships Work 243Part IV: Moving On and Maintaining Recovery 261Chapter 16: Following Your Bliss 263Chapter 17: Where to Get Help 277Chapter 18: Working the Twelve Steps 285Chapter 19: Maintaining Recovery 303Part V: The Part of Tens 315Chapter 20: Ten Ways to Love Yourself 317Chapter 21: Ten Daily Reminders 323Index 329