CODEPENDENCY CHARACTERISTICS (Cont'd):
14. We may have a tendency toward episodes of depression, which we try to
forestall through the excitement provided by an unstable relationship.
15. To experience a one on one relationship, we are not attracted
to a person who is kind, stable, reliable and interested in us.
We find such "nice" people boring.
16. Since we have an overdeveloped sense of responsibility, it
is easier for us to be concerned with others needs rather than
ours. We tend not to take care of ourselves emotionally, physically,
spiritually, and/or psychologically. This focus on others, in
turn, has enabled us to avoid looking closely at our own faults.
17. We "stuff" our feelings from our traumatic childhoods
and have lost the ability to feel or express our feelings because
it hurts too muchour feelings our frozen.
18. We tend to sooner or later become isolated from and afraid
of people and authority figures.
19. We have become approval seekers and have lost our identity
in the process.
20. We are frightened by angry people and any personal criticism.
21. We live from the viewpoint of victims and are attracted by
that weakness in our love and friendship relationships.
22. We judge ourselves harshly and without mercy.
23. We experience guilt feelings when we stand up for ourselves
instead of giving in to others.
24. We confuse love with pity and tend to "love" people
we can pity and rescue.
25. We tend to be perfectionistic and judgmental.
26. We are reactors in life rather than actors.
27. We are entangled in our relationships and we either lean excessively
on another (or tolerate that behavior from another) rather than
standing as separate individuals reaching out to relate to and
help one another.
Sunday at 3 p.m.
St. Joseph ACOA; Hackensack St. & Hoboken Rd.; E. Rutherford, N.J.