Codependency Support Group
Codependency is defined as someone who exhibits too much, and often inappropriate, caring for another person's struggles. A codependent person may try to change, or feel shame about their most private thoughts and feelings if they conflict with the other person's struggles. If you are on a journey towards self-love, this support group is for you. Join us and find others...
There are no CoDa support groups within 50 miles of my house. However, a couple of days ago a friend of mine suggested I attend a local AA meeting since some of those who attend deal with issues other than alcohol abuse. If I remember correctly, the 12 steps of CoDa are identical word-for-word as those of AA. So is AA a viable option for a codependent? What does everyone think about this?
2. I've been attending twelve step meetings since November (full disclosure: SLAA meetings, but 99% of Love addicts are codependents and we always share codependent issues), and where I have learned things from listening to people share their stories, I've found it more useful working a workbook and reading. That's been even more helpful than my therapy sessions. I've even found this discussion group and the people who post here loads more helpful than attending meetings or therapy. I've found myself reading things that I needed to "hear" at the perfect moment. And journaling regarding lines/quotes of what I'm reading allows me some space to explore concepts and organize it more clearly in my mind. I do live in a city but I've been buying my books through amazon and reading via the kindle app on my tablet, so I don't even need a physical bookstore.
The reason I say this is Booky once posted that as codependents, we're prone to depending on someone other than ourselves. That really got me thinking. In my support groups people are often quoting their sponsors or therapist. Rarely do I hear someone say "I believe I need" or "My inner voice tells me"...I feel like these groups are a wonderful place for support, but there is some reaffirmation that we can't or shouldn't trust our own judgment, when the problem is we're not realizing it's time to trust ourselves. That we can continue to develop on our own.
So I'm not saying meetings aren't helpful (I'm still going to attend mine until I move) but if you can't find one, you can still grow and learn without one. In my opinion you have everything you need.
I just wanted to throw that perspective out there. Whatever you decide, good luck!
Peace.
I just recently started attending CoDa meetings, and I've found it mostly helps me in feeling like I wasn't alone with what I was dealing with. Learning to be more assertive, self-assured and interdependent instead of codependent is more of a self-paved road through self-education and persistence.