WHAT IS CODEPENDENCY?
The Problem With Definitions
In dealing with our own issues and personal growth–which we call the “recovery” process–many of us have a problem with the term “Codependency.” For some, it is a difficult term to understand, to get a feel for. Yet it is important that we do get a feel for the term, because it will be used to describe many of the problems we are experiencing. It is a label. Putting a label on problems helps us understand them. Understanding helps us deal with them.
If you are one of those having difficulty with the term, my advice is not to worry about it. Work on your growth and the understanding will come. Codependency is not the only psychological term that people have problems with. I know of a case of a person who was constantly obsessing, yet when he was told this he had no idea what “obsessing” meant, and it took time for him to get it. The same with the case of a person who lacked intimacy in his marriage. He thought intimacy equated to a sexual relationship, and he had that with his wife, so how was he lacking “intimacy?”
It is estimated that there are well over 400 books on codependency–and just as many definitions of the word. So if you’re confused, join the club. But for purposes of this series, I’m going to offer a simple, personalized definition of codependency:
I AM A CODEPENDENT IF ANY PERSON, PLACE, OR THING THAT I AM
DEPENDENT ON CREATES UNMANAGEABILITY OR INSANITY IN MY LIFE.
Vince DiPasquale
***Time Stamps***
0:00 Intro
0:15 Definition of Codependency
0:53 Core Root of all addictions
3:02 Simplified view of addictions and codependency
3:34 Revolution in society; the Drug Culture
4:02 Adult Children of Alcoholics
5:17 Opening of new era in field of addiction
5:35 Two books on codependency
5:52 Identifying Addictive Behaviors, Addictive Behavior Patterns, Addictive Personalities
7:22 Stages of Development
8:08 Family systems and the Five families
9:42 Five basic principles of life
14:40 Unmet principal spiritual needs
15:37 Development of survival patterns
16:25 Three basic fundamental foundations of codependency
17:32 Isolators
24:44 Fantasizers
32:50 Caretakers
41:08 Interconnectedness of behavior characteristics
42:23 Preview next eight weeks of series on codependency
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