Co-Dependence - Healing the Human Condition

This book has good technical information. It was a little sterile but lots of good information. When reading about this topic I would suggest the other authors first and use this after you know about what exactly codependency is. Or if you are really analytical and use that side of your brain first this might be the book for you. It just was not as easy to understand as some of the authors I have read on this topic. Coda member for 8 years, I know about this topic.

I am a practicing psychotherapist. Although this book is old (1991), I still find it is one of the best summaries of "wounded child" paradigm; I use it often to educate clients on why they act and feel the way they do. Yes, this whole way of viewing dysfunction has its limits (they think everyone in the world is suffering from unhealed wounds of the child, and they use the term 'co-dependent' for everything under the sun). But this book is also surprisingly well-edited, tight, and to the point, much less "fluffy" than much of the "recovery" literature. It strikes a good balance between accessibility and depth. I especially like some of Whitfield's diagrams, which wonderfully illustrate the difficult stages of recovery from abuse.

This book really opened my eyes to the what is really going on in my relationship. I think co-dependence occurs to some extent in any relationship and anybody who becomes aware of its mechanisms will probably enhance the quality of their lives dramatically. This book is a great vehicle for anyone to improve on their relationships. I must also recommend Rhythm, Relationships, and Transcendence by Toru Sato since it is an even more insightful book about relationships and codependence. Read them both! You will not be dissappointed!

By the tiume you get to page 109 you will be depressed. The author so clearly explains how the wounding process takes place and what it's effects are. Although you should get angry and avoid most people from your family for a while. Eventually it is tremendously liberating and is a guide leading us off the path that other people have dictated to us. Shows us how to find our True self. That is exciting and can make one's life more worthwhile.