Skip to main content

Regularly talk with your kids about peer pressure, bullying, and substances. We have tons of resources for you here. And remember, if you or someone you love is in crisis, contact the 988 Lifeline immediately.

Our Vision

is that young people have a strong belief in themselves, the skills and support to make excellent life choices, and the resilience to grow into healthy adults.  Learn more and get involved.

  • Corsicana Middle School student
    Corsicana Middle School student

    "Thank you for teaching us things we will really use in our lifetime. You kept it real with us and showed me how it's be growing up but you also gave us skills to use in life. You made us socialize in class and showed us careers to look into. Thank you for everything!"

Our Impact in 2022 in Dallas, Ellis and Navarro Counties

A compelling statement about how we are changing the community for the better.

  • Youth Prevention Programs

    4,501

  • Community Coalition Partnerships (CCPs)

    13,168

  • Health and Wellness

    4,289

Are You a Person With Codependency?

Codependency can be misunderstood because it is often thrown around colloquially, as in, “You’re so codependent!”

We’re raising awareness about codependency during January to give context to the seriousness of what is also called “relationship addiction.”

A codependent relationship was originally thought to occur between someone with a substance use disorder and his/her partner. In recent years, the definition has expanded to include any relationship that causes mental, physical, or emotional suffering.

According to Verywell Health, an online resource backed by a reputable medical board, “A codependent person puts their own needs aside and is hyper-vigilant about meeting the needs of another person—often to the point that their life revolves around that person. This creates a one-sided relationship that is destructive and dysfunctional for both people.”

Here’s where it gets interesting. Verywell Health believes that “codependence is thought to develop when a child grows up in a dysfunctional family environment where fear, anger, and shame go unacknowledged. The dynamic leads family members to withhold from expressing (repressing) their emotions and ignore their own needs.”

Childhood trauma always impacts adult relationships. Without awareness and action, codependence can become generational. That’s why this month of awareness is critical. Maybe this acronym will help:

Awareness

Action I must take to keep my self-respect.

Wisdom to know when things are out of my control.

Alert myself to the role I play in the family drama.

Remind myself to think, not react to the addict’s behaviors.

Envision how I should behave, and follow through.

Nagging others with threats never works. It’s time to speak kindly to myself.

Enlighten my future with positive affirmations.

Share how codependent behavior restricts everyone’s freedom, including my own.

Set plans in place to change the things I can and pray for courage to carry them out. (Attribution: Diane Jellen)

Learn more about codependency at Mental Health America.

 

MENU CLOSE