Codependent No More Workbook Paperback – April 1, 2011

Great inspiration for healthy boundaries & self-care

Wow! If you want to read a book that you can work through your issues with codependency or low self-esteem due to being with toxic partners or being around toxic people at any point during your life this is the book to read! I have learned so much about myself and about how other people‘s behaviors have been influencing the way I go about things. I feel like I’m in a lot better headspace now, but I do read this book often just to keep working my own personal steps. This book might not be for everyone, but it is definitely a good place to start for a safe self healing and recovery journey. I recommend this book to all my friends and to any of my family members who are going through recovery.

This book is amazing!

You're not alone if you're codependent

I'm currently in the middle of this workbook. First of all, the God stuff is SUPER heavy. I identify as loosely pagan, so I have some spirituality... in fact, I feel my spirituality might mesh better with the ideas in this book than Christianity or other very traditional male-sky-figure type religions. Having said that, I have many atheist friends and looking at the book from that point of view, I can imagine it would be extremely difficult to use this book if you're an atheist.So to sum up: You can stretch your spiritual beliefs just fine to accommodate the lessons in this book, but NOT if you're an atheist. I can't figure out how that would work (Best of luck to all codependent atheists out there)As for the rest of it... I'm doing the "activities" in a loose way. For a lot of the questions, my response is "well, duh". So instead, I'm reading through the chapters, keeping a journal of whatever thoughts are inspired, and doing the activities in a way that makes sense to me. I'm probably reacting that way because I've been on a journey for a few years now, figuring out this stuff, so most of it is not new to me. I'm not sitting here going, "Oh gosh, yeah, that is TOTALLY NEW INFORMATION! I NEED TO DO THIS EXERCISE!" Sometimes I'm going, "yeah, been there, got the t-shirt, cool story bro. What's next?"So if you're very new to the concept of codependency, this is probably a great workbook for you (read the book too).If you're already "in recovery" the workbook can be a helpful tool but you might not answer every single question verbatim. You might want to do as I'm doing, and keep a journal of reflections. I find that the activities are a bit limiting, so if I feel inspired to write something, I write it. And it's helping a lot.

I bought the book "Codependent No More" on the recommendation of my therapist and when I saw the workbook I decided to just pick it up too. It was a great 'on a whim' purchase!! I am currently working through it and it has helped my treatment TREMENDOUSLY!! I thought I was just depressed with anxiety and these books have helped me learn that it is so much more than that!! They are well written and packed full of information, step-by-step guides to help tweak your codependent habits you never realized were hurting you. What I love most is the way this is written, it's not an attack on you or even your codependent qualities, they're seen as survivor skills you needed at one time or another but you outgrew. "Many of us have been trying to cope with outrageous circumstances, and these efforts have been both admirable and heroic. We have done the best we could."-- Codependent No More, Chapt.4 pg 40. I highly recommend these books if you're looking for a better way to survive the world, it certainly changed mine!

Years ago this book enlightened me about how I view relationships. Initially I read it cover to cover and discovered every person I knew within the pages. Of course then I had to read it again....so I could find myself. This is a gift for someone I love, my son. He's started on his journey to enlightenment and I know his journey will be different, but I also know, there are secrets still to be discovered in these pages. Thank you Melody

I have a son who can’t seem to get his life together, he has a mental illness he will not get help for so I was helping him financially because I thought it was the right thing to do. but then he began to take advantage of my kindness by stealing from me and this caused serious problems in my life with my husband. He (my husband) wasn’t having it anymore!!! so I went to coda because I knew I was enabling my son. Coda recommended this book.I began to read it and it opened my eyes.How can my son (age 33) ever learn to deal with and learn from his own problems if I’m always taking care of them? Why should he get a job if I’m always the bank? He needs to except responsibility for his own actions. I didn’t do this to him, he did.Thanks to Melody Beattie for this book, it has truly been a godsend!!