TYPICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF A CO-DEPENDENT

I assume responsibility for others' feelings and/or behaviors.

I feel overly responsible for others' feelings and/or behaviors.

I have difficulty in identifying feelings -- I am Angry? Lonely? Sad? Happy? Joyful?

I have difficulty expressing feelings -- I am feeling...Happy, Sad, Hurt, JOYFUL.

I tend to fear and/or worry how others may respond to my feelings.

I have difficulty in forming and/or maintaining close relationships.

I am afraid of being hurt and/or rejected by others.

I am perfectionistic and place too many expectations on myself and others.

I have diffculty making decisions.

I tend to minimize, alter or even deny the truth about how I feel.

Other people's actions and attitudes tend to determine how I respond/react.

I tend to put other people's wants and needs first.

My fear of others feelings (Anger) determines what I say and do.

I question or ignore my own values to connect with significant others.

I value others' opinions more than my own.

My self-esteem is bolstered by outer/other influences. I cannot acknowledge good things about myself.

My serenity and mental attention is determined by how others are feeling and/or behaving.

I tend to judge everything I Do, Think, or Say Harshly, by someone else's standards -- Nothing is Done, Said or Thought "Good Enough".

I do not know or believe that being vulnerable and asking for help is both okay and normal.

I 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.

I tend to put others wants and needs before my own.

I am steadfastly loyal -- even when the loyalty is unjustified -- personally harmful.

I have to be "Needed" in order to have a relationship with others.

Source Anonymous
Last Revised -- Monday, November 11, 1996 10:26:20 PM
Stay on The Path
Return To Ralph's :
Send comments to Ralph Lambert, rlambert@for-him.com