Step 9-Amends Are Changes Not Apologies

“Made direct amends to such people, wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.” Step 9 Many people find this step… challenging. Fortunately, in CoDA, we have a method for making amends. It helped me to hear someone say at a meeting, “you don’t apologize to the Constitution, you amend it”.Continue reading “Step 9-Amends Are Changes Not Apologies”

Step 8

~adapted from the Twelve Steps Handbook of CoDA In this moment, I see the impossible become not only possible, but real.As I forgive myself for my shortcomings, I am able to forgive others, opening the way for a true and lasting change in my behavior.Thank you, God. Step 8 Prayer Made a list of allContinue reading “Step 8”

Steps 6 & 7

adapted from CoDA’s “12 Steps Handbook” Step 6: “Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.”What does it mean to be entirely ready? In CoDA, we learn that it means completely prepared. The first five steps are a large part of that preparation. What we need now is willingness. What areContinue reading “Steps 6 & 7”

The Nature of Our Wrongs

Step 5 states… “Admitted to God, to ourselves and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.” So taking from CoDA’s Twelve Steps Handbook and recapping where we’ve been: Let’s clarify a couple of words in that last one.1. Nature: The dictionary defines Nature as… “The forces and processes that produce and controlContinue reading “The Nature of Our Wrongs”

Perseverance

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”

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.