S6 - #1 Chapter One: Codependent Beginnings

This season Brian will be reading aloud from the book we just published (link and description below). Chapter One frames codependency as learned, strategic, adaptive response to feelings of powerlessness, to emotional pain. It also covers the dynamics within Brian's family that gave rise to the codependent behaviors that would eventually cripple him emotionally and relationally for most of his life. 

Buy now in paperback or eBook form: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CYH7TMZ1/

Based on the acclaimed podcast of the same name, follow Brian's transformative journey from codependency and despair to joyful, fulfilling and sustaining relationships. Gain guidance into examining your own life and crafting a personalized pathway to heal from codependency and trauma.

In Part 1 of his journey, Brian explores:

• The family dynamics in his childhood that set the stage for codependent habits.
• The long term effects of trauma, including its complex and chronic manifestations.
• Threat responses (particularly freeze and fawn) and the connection to the behaviors that make up codependency.
• The role of shame and fear in deepening his codependent habits.
• How his codependent behaviors fostered isolation and perpetuated dysfunctional relationship dynamics.
• The toxic interplay between narcissism and codependency, and the trauma bonds that ensnared him in relationships with abusive narcissists.

In Part 2, the re-making of a codependent mind, Brian describes:

• What is on the other side of codependency? Is it worth it?
• Healing from his emotional wounds by connecting with other people, repairing his emotional system and re-writing the stories of his life.
• How he finally broke the codependent habits that prevented him from having the emotionally intimate relationships that he always craved.
• Acquiring a new approach to romantic relationships.

This book is a beacon of hope for those seeking liberation from codependency's grip, providing both insights and practical guidance for the journey toward authenticity and connection.