Synopses & Reviews
In
Codependent No More, Melody Beattie introduced the world to the term
codependency. Now a modern classic, this book established Beattie as a pioneer in self-help literature and endeared her to millions of readers who longed for healthier relationships. Twenty-five years later concepts such as self-care and setting boundaries have become entrenched in mainstream culture. Now Beattie has written a followup volume,
The New Codependency, which clears up misconceptions about codependency, identifies how codependent behavior has changed, and provides a new generation with a road map to wellness.
The question remains: What is and what is not codependency? Beattie here reminds us that much of codependency is normal behavior. It's about crossing lines. There are times we do too much, care too much, feel too little, or overly engage. Feeling resentment after giving is not the same as heartfelt generosity. Narcissism and self-love, enabling and nurturing, and controlling and setting boundaries are not interchangeable terms. In The New Codependency, Beattie explores these differences, effectively invoking her own inspiring story and those of others, to empower us to step out of the victim role forever. Codependency, she shows, is not an illness but rather a series of behaviors that once broken down and analyzed can be successfully combated.
Each section offers an overview of and a series of activities pertaining to a particular behavior -- caretaking, controlling, manipulation, denial, repression, etc. -- enabling us to personalize our own step-bystep guide to wellness. These sections, in conjunction with a series of tests allowing us to assess the level of our codependent behavior, demonstrate that while it may not seem possible now, we have the power to take care of ourselves, no matter what we are experiencing.
Punctuated with Beattie's renowned candor and intuitive wisdom, The New Codependency is an owner's manual to learning to be who we are and gives us the tools necessary to reclaim our lives by renouncing unhealthy practices.
Review
"'Codependent' is in the dictionary because of Melody Beattie. Her book is required reading." -- Christine Stapleton, Palm Beach Post
Synopsis
The New Codependency is an owner's manual to learning to be who you are and gives you the tools necessary to reclaim your life by renouncing unhealthy practices. In Codependent No More, Melody Beattie introduced the world to the term codependency. Now a modern classic, this book established Beattie as a pioneer in self-help literature and endeared her to millions of readers who longed for healthier relationships. Twenty-five years later concepts such as self-care and setting boundaries have become entrenched in mainstream culture. Now Beattie has written a followup volume, The New Codependency, which clears up misconceptions about codependency, identifies how codependent behavior has changed, and provides a new generation with a road map to wellness.
The question remains: What is and what is not codependency? Beattie here reminds us that much of codependency is normal behavior. It's about crossing lines. There are times we do too much, care too much, feel too little, or overly engage. Feeling resentment after giving is not the same as heartfelt generosity. Narcissism and self-love, enabling and nurturing, and controlling and setting boundaries are not interchangeable terms. In The New Codependency, Beattie explores these differences, effectively invoking her own inspiring story and those of others, to empower us to step out of the victim role forever. Codependency, she shows, is not an illness but rather a series of behaviors that once broken down and analyzed can be successfully combated.
Each section offers an overview of and a series of activities pertaining to a particular behavior--caretaking, controlling, manipulation, denial, repression, etc.--enabling us to personalize our own step-by-step guide to wellness. These sections, in conjunction with a series of tests allowing us to assess the level of our codependent behavior, demonstrate that while it may not seem possible now, we have the power to take care of ourselves, no matter what we are experiencing.
About the Author
Melody Beattie, one of the seminal figures in the recovery movement, is the author of the international bestseller Codependent No More, which has sold over eight million copies and been translated into more than a dozen languages. An expert on codependency, Beattie has written fifteen books, including include Beyond Codependency, The Language of Letting Go, and The Grief Club
Table of Contents
SECTION ONE
Crossing Lines and Getting Back over Them Again
1. Taking Care of Ourselves
2. How to Use This Handbook
3. What Codependency Is and Isn't
4. The New Codependency
5. Letting Go of Stigma from the Label
SECTION TWO
Breaking Free from the Control Trap and Getting Some Grace
1. The Evolving Art of Self-Care
2. Boundaries
3. Caretaking
4. Chemically Dependent and Codependent
5. Communication
6. Control
7. Denial
8. Dependency
9. A New Legacy from Our Family of Origin
10. Giving and Receiving
11. Self-Love Is Contagious
12. Manipulation
13. Let's Play
14. Nurturing
15. Obsession
16. The Secrets to Power
17. Cdependency Progression
18. Healing What Hurts
19. The Freedom to Be Who We Are
20. Nonresistance
21. Sexual Intimacy and Codependency
22. Surrendering Our Way into Grace
SECTION THREE
Making a Conscious Connection with Yourself
Emotional Health Quiz
Anger Quiz
Fear Quiz
Drama and Misery Addiction Quiz
Guilt Quiz
Grief and Loss Quiz
SECTION FOUR
Catch and Release: It's Only a Feeling 1. Opening Pandora's Box
2. Dealing with Feelings
3. Fear
4. Company Doesn't Love Misery
5. Guilt
6. The Way to the Heart
SECTION FIVE
Troubleshooting Guide
1. What to Do When
2. H ow to Find Help for Almost Everything