Codependent No More & Beyond Codependency

Melody Beattie, a former addict, used to hate codependents (which she defines as "people who have let another person's behavior afect him or her, and who is obsessed with controlling that person's behavior"). Codepdendents are most frequently the family members of alcoholics or drug users, but the definition is broad. Beattie thought codependents were hostile and detrimental to the recovery process. When she went through codependency herself, her eyes were opened to the world that these people live in, and to the potential for recovery if one can identify the problem and take positive steps to improve their life. Codependent No More is a quick and easy read, and it will hit home if you have an alcoholic or a codependent (or both) in your life. Beattie provides example scenarios of codependecy, expounds upon the traits and self-defeating behaviors of codepdency, and provides self-help steps to move beyond codepdency. Although this isn't marketed as a workbook, Beattie provides checklists and open-ended questions at the end of each chapter, and a blank journal to record your reponses would be an excellent companion to the book. Once you've finished Codependent No More, Beattie's next book (included in this two-for-one) Beyond Codepdency is a guide to the on-going recovery process. It also includes activities/questions to probe the reader's own experience and help him or her get a handle on their situation. These two books are highly recommended and it is terrific that they are available in one volume.

After years of living with an alcoholic man, I found this book through a wonderful counselor. It literally saved my life. I started reading and found myself within the pages. This book opened my heart and my mind to the good things life had for me. Melody's book, Beyond Codependency, is also life-changing.

What an important book. Recommended to me by a therapist. It has changed my life. Now I recommend it to others who want to start living theirs. It's excellent, buy it.

I have Codependent no more and beyond codependency and found it so helpful during such a dificult time in my life. I came here to order my sister her own copy because I am holding on to mine. When I saw the first review I was very disapointed because I would hate to think someone who needs the help this book has to offer may miss out upon reading that review. Its very annoying to me everytime I hear someone ignorantly say how they dont believe in codependency because its saying if you are loving and giving you are codependent. Thats rediculous! My husband is an alcoholic and went through rehab at Betty Ford. There is where I had the privelage of going through family week and learning so much. However I fought the codependent label because I just didnt get it at the time. Afterwards during my personal therapy my therapist suggested I read Mealodys books. Thats when the lights came on and suddenly so much became clear to me. There is absolutley nothing wrong with me being a very loving and giving person. However there was a problem with me giving to the point of hurting myself and not taking care of me. Another helpful book is "Boundaries" by Cloud and Townsend. The books wont "fix" you. They can provide you with a wealth of knowlege to help you help yourself. Check out Dr Irene's website for imediate information on codependency.Best of luck to you in changing your life for the better and finding that peaceful place.

This book was recommended to me by my therapist. I had no ideawhy, but in retrospect it may have been the nicest thing anyone hasdone for me. I was struggling to make sense of a bad, manipulativerelationship, and the book shed light on so many things that had foryears baffled me about myself. The second book fills in the cracksleft by the first book and explains the recovery process in moredetail, whereas the first dealt more in diagnosing the problem. Thebook deals a great deal with codependent people in relationships withalcohlics and drug addicts, but the information will help any onedealing with codependency. An excellent overall book oncodependency...