Overcoming any addiction requires a lifelong commitment to recovery. The road is a long one, and for many people, the prospect of seeking treatment is a bleak one. According to the American Addiction Centers, up to 90% of the people who struggle with addiction do not receive the treatment they need. Even those people who […]
We all like different things, so it only goes to follow that what’s fun for others isn’t necessarily fun for you. You can live more authentically when you discover what’s fun for you. Living authentically Living authentically means being true to yourself, having a strong sense of who you are, and behaving in ways […]
Codependency is most often the result of childhood trauma. But many readers have written to me, confused because they’re codependent and had a “normal” childhood. “I don’t understand why I’m codependent. I’ve read your posts, but I didn’t grow up in a dysfunctional family. How did this happen?” “Is it possible to be codependent if […]
This post contains affiliate links. After my recent blog post about growing up in an alcoholic family, I got a lot of requests for additional reading suggestions. We are fortunate that there are many helpful books for Adult Children of Alcoholics (ACOAs) on healing codependency, trauma, and relationship challenges. Below are some of […]
Are you drawn to people with serious problems, who tend to “under function”? Do you feel lonely in your relationships? Do you feel like no one listens to you or no one cares about you? Are you tired of having the same arguments over and over again? Do you feel invisible or insignificant? Do […]
Boundaries are rules or guidelines that you create to show others how to treat you. Relationships work best when we are clear about our expectations and needs. We can show ourselves and others respect by setting clear, consistent boundaries. Setting boundaries is a struggle for a lot of people. I’m not going to […]
Kyle is a classic people-pleaser. He’s been dating Lucy for four years and hopes to marry her. From the beginning, Lucy has been clear that she wants Kyle to attend church with her and finish college. Kyle isn’t particularly interested in church and isn’t sure he even believes in God, but he attends every week. He flunked out of […]