Typical Traits of Co-Dependents

Codependence is described as a disease that originates in dysfunctional families where children learn to overcompensate for their parents' disorders and develop an excessive sensitivity to others' needs. The term "dysfunctional family" originally referred only to families with patterns of interaction associated with alcoholism. It is now, however, recognized as a disease occurring in family systems based on "denial" or "shame-based rules." This includes a wide-spectrum of pathological emotional interactions in families, but there is always an avoidance of confrontation and inability to resolve conflict. This is sometimes described in terms like "enmeshment" or "blurred ego boundaries." Adult children of dysfunctional families often suffer from a sense of confusion and deprivation that has continued into their adult life — a feeling of "not knowing what normal is" — that has become an anguished desire to recover something emotionally missing in their upbringing.   WIKIPEDIA

• Assume responsibility for other's feelings and/or behaviors.
• Have difficulty in identifying feeling -- Am I angry? Lonely? Sad? Happy? Joyful?
• Tend to fear and/or worry how others may respond to their feelings.
• Have difficulty in forming and/or maintaining close relationships.
• Afraid of being hurt and/or rejected by others.
• Perfectionist and place too many expectations on themselves and others.
• Have difficulty making decisions.
• Tend to minimize, alter or even deny the truth about how they feel.
• Other people's actions and attitudes tend to determine how they respond/react.
• Tend to put other peoples' wants and needs first.
• Fear of others' feelings (anger) determines what they say and do.
• Question or ignore their own values to connect with significant others.  They value others opinions more than their own.
• Self-esteem is bolstered by outer-other influences.  Cannot acknowledge good things about themselves.
• Serenity and mental attention is determined by how others are feeling and/or behaving.
• Tend to judge everything they do, think, or say harshly, by someone else's standards.
• Do not kow or believer that being vulnerable and adking for help is both okay and normal.
• Do not know that it is okay to talk about problems outside the family; or that feelings just are --and it is better to share them than to deny, minimize or justify them.
• Tend to put others people's wants and needs before their own.
• Steadfastly loyal - even when the loyalty is unjustified - and often personally harmful.
• Have to be "needed" in order to have a relationship with others.

The Good News is that there is restoration and complete recovery - true healing through a Personal Journey with Jesus Christ. The answer is closer than you think and simpler than you have been led to believe.

Christian Recovery Websites

Alcoholics Victorious
Founded in 1948, Alcoholics Victorious support groups offer a safe environment where recovering people who recognize Jesus Christ as their "Higher Power"  gather together and share their experience, strength and hope.

Association of Gospel Rescue Missions (ARGM)
RESCUE missions provide emergency food and shelter, youth and family services, rehabilitation programs for the addicted, education and job training programs and assistance to the elderly poor and at-risk youth. 

Celebrate Recovery
Christ-centered recovery program for any type of hurt, habits, and hang-ups. Originated from Rick Warren's Saddleback church through associate Pastor John Backer.  A 12-Step program implementing the Beatitudes from the Bible.

Choose Help...Breaking Free
The Christian 12 steps movement obviously originates out of the root successes of the original 12 steps programs, but to better serve the needs of Christians in recovery.  Praying to a higher power never made much sense to Christians in the program, and so in Christian recovery, not only do we pray to Jesus, but we also study the wisdom of the bible for strength and meaning, and we search our souls for ways we can live better lives in the image of God.

Christian 12 Step Recovery Program
Christian drug rehab & Christian 12 step recovery is something that everyone has heard of. By the time someone is an adult it is highly likely that he or she has met someone who is "working the steps" or have heard about the steps on television or in a movie. The Christian 12 step recovery program as worked in Christian drug rehab centers or Christian alcohol treatment centers for addiction recovery, has become famous all over the world for one reason: it works even when other methods of addiction recovery have failed.

His Mansion Ministries
His Mansion is a Christian rehabilitation center with more than 35 years of experience successfully treating everything from alcohol abuse to eating disorders. The ministry was founded in 1971 by Stan Farmer, Hal Moore and Joseph Wagner.

Heart to Heart Counciling Center
products available to help those struggling with sexual addiction and those in relationships with sexual addicts.

Living Free...Turning Point
Get ideas for yourself or to help others who might struggle with something life-controlling. Learn how you can begin a small group ministry to help yourself, your loved-ones and others in your church and community.

New Life Ministries
To identify and compassionately respond to the needs of those seeking healing and restoration through God's truth.