by Terrie C I am a survivor of childhood trauma and also ongoing trauma. In recovery, it has been important to me to acknowledge my successes as well as my mistakes. In the book THE ADDICTIVE ORGANIZATION by Anne Wilson Schaef and Diane Fassel, they describe codependent behaviors as a fatal disease and say, “InContinue reading “Perseverance”
Category Archives: recovery stories
Journey through the 12 Steps of Co-Dependents Anonymous
Give a listen to CoDA Founders-Ken and Mary- as they give a talk based on the CoDA Aqua Book. (Event presented to CoDA Tucson Sept 5, 2020 via Zoom)
be true to yourself
by Terrie C. I am a trauma survivor. I had difficulty feeling like I belonged in my family. I have struggled most of my life to feel like I belong. I feel fear in meetings because I choose not to identify myself as a codependent. And, I know, that to be true to myself, thatContinue reading “be true to yourself”
finding personal healing in recovery
Many codependents suffer from the effects of trauma. The tools of co-dependents anonymous along with self-compassion can help the healing process. It is an individual growth process.
Step 11-finding my higher power
The principle of Step 11 is SPIRITUAL AWARENESS. Prayer means asking. Meditation means listening. One of the things I love about this step is that it gives permission to define our own Higher Power. What does my spirit tell me? Many experiences over the last 40 years of recovery work have brought me giftsContinue reading “Step 11-finding my higher power”
There’s a hole in my sidewalk
Autobiography in Five Short ChaptersBy Portia Nelson Chapter OneI walk down the street.There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.I fall in.I am lost …. I am helpless.It isn’t my fault.It takes forever to find a way out. Chapter TwoI walk down the street.There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.I pretend that I don’tContinue reading “There’s a hole in my sidewalk”
Loving Myself Back Into Wholeness
Bringing Compassion to our Personal Inventory by Charlie B I am Charlie, and I’m still recovering from the codependent survival patterns I learned so well in childhood. I’m also grateful I’ve come so far! So many of the program promises have come true for me in so many good ways! Yet I still have muchContinue reading “Loving Myself Back Into Wholeness”
Life is teaching us
Staying calm in the midst of chaos and uncertainty has not been easy for me in my life. I feel triggered by the circumstances relating to this COVID 19 pandemic. The craziness of it. The isolation. The paranoia. The feeling of scarcity. The confusing and ever-changing information. It reminds me of my childhood. Of myContinue reading “Life is teaching us”
Welcome to Recovery From Codependency | The Phoenix Spirit
I had difficulty in my love relationships, friendships and relationships with co-workers and my family. Everything felt so difficult. Why did I keep getting fired from jobs, even from my own business? Why couldn’t men love me the way I needed to be loved? I know how to fix everyone else’s problems, why can’t I seemContinue reading “Welcome to Recovery From Codependency | The Phoenix Spirit”
Grow and Let Go
The only thing that makes life possible is permanent, intolerable uncertainty: not knowing what comes next. Ursula LeGuin The world around us changes constantly. Trees turn from green to beautiful shades of yellow, orange, and red in the fall. Yet, even if we watched the trees carefully, every minute of the day, we could notContinue reading “Grow and Let Go”