Photo by Charles Deluvio (@charlesdeluvio) on Unsplash

As a child, I grew up around people who struggled with addictions and words like Codependency, addictive personality, and even “addict behavior” became very common to me. It wasn’t until I was in graduate school that I learned that Codependency doesn’t always have to be related directly to caring for a person with an addiction. Generally speaking, anyone in relationships, whether romantic or friendly can be co-dependent. By definition, Codependency is “ a behavioral condition in a relationship where one person enables another person's addiction, poor mental health, immaturity, irresponsibility, or under-achievement. Among the core characteristics of codependency is an excessive reliance on other people for approval and a sense of identity.” It is NOT a mental health disorder.

Typically, codependent relationships are one-sided where one person is giving disporportionately to the other person by sacrificing their needs. In sacrificing, one partner may be attempting to please the other person. While “people pleasing” is another hot button topic, one thing that is a consistent theme for many codependent people is trauma and even childhood emotional neglect. It isn’t always about making someone else happy; for many it is often an act of survival that they may have learned as a child and it can feel very shameful.

8 Signs that you may be codependent:

• You may be very self-critical.

• You carry a lot of guilt and shame.

• You have difficulty setting boundaries.

• You may be quick to ignore your own feelings and needs in order to focus on the needs and feelings of someone else.

• You may focus on other people’s problems even if it negatively affects your physical health, mental health, or even your finances.

• Trust, intimacy, and connecting with others may be a struggle.

• Routines, predictability, and consistency are majorly important to you.

• You may overwork or overschedule yourself.

Can you recover from codependency?

Consistent therapy is recommended if you struggle with codependency. Typical treatment often involves getting in touch with deep-rooted feelings of hurt, loss, and even anger will help to reconstruct healthy relationship dynamics. If you think that you may be codependent and you are ready for help to explore your relationships, please contact us for more information about appointments.

By Brandi Lewis, M.Ed, LPC

Photo by Form on Unsplash

The concept of acceptance plays a major role in yoga. However, as much as we want to focus on acceptance, we all have goals we want to achieve too. The truth is that balance can be found in accepting where we are, while at the same time, adding the necessary tools to move forward.

Get Tech Savvy

The tried and true way to achieve any goal is to practice frequently and consistently. Many people can’t get to a studio as often as they’d like, and for some, the cost of yoga is a barrier to attending classes. A simple solution is to utilize our tech devices for an easy and affordable way to practice at home.

For example, a streaming device is one tool that costs less than yoga classes, and for this minimal investment, you can access a host of digital yoga classes. This gives you the opportunity to choose the instructor and type of yoga that’s best for what you’re working to achieve, without any limits on how often you can practice. Before buying a media streamer, we recommend that you compare streaming devices to make sure you find something that easily works with your TV (as well as your budget).

Another essential tool for doing more yoga at home, or anywhere for that matter, is something everyone has in their pocket or pocketbook: your phone. AppGrooves breaks down the best yoga apps based on the different features they offer. For example, Yoga Down Dog is perfect if you’re trying to carve out time for a quick yoga session anywhere, whereas Yoga for Weight Loss is ideal if you want more of a challenge.

Take Full Advantage of Props

Most yogis have used props at the suggestion of an instructor, but are you aware of the full benefits they can provide? Props have several different functions, depending on how you use them, but their overall purpose is to improve your practice. For example, one use of a block is to add strength to certain poses because it forces you to work muscles in a different way.

Props are also perfect for working toward a more challenging pose. This is because they serve as an extension of your body, making a pose more accessible as you build the strength and flexibility to reach those higher level poses. When you’re working towards yoga goals, you can’t expect results overnight, but props can be the bridge that helps you get from where you are to where you want to be.

Expand Your Yoga Universe

One of the amazing benefits of yoga is that it helps you destress and set your worries aside. But do you pick them back up again as soon as your practice is over? We can’t expect yoga alone to eliminate stress from our lives, but we can all benefit from taking yoga principles out into the world with us. Not to mention, integrating yoga concepts throughout your life can lead to a vast improvement in your practice.

Do You Yoga recommends adding meditation to your everyday routine. Doing this will help you maintain that sense of calm that comes from a great yoga session, and in turn, your increased sense of mindfulness will aid in maintaining a greater focus on the mat.

Another way to boost your yoga game is to work on developing strength and balance outside of yoga. Even if you’re short on time, most of us can squeak in a quick HIIT workout at home to gain extra strength. You may also benefit from investing in an exercise ball, or even a yoga chair, to work your core and increase balance.

Sometimes all it takes to achieve growth is a willingness to think outside the box (and the yoga studio) and try something new. After all, yoga is all about flexibility and stretching. It’s only when you’re flexible and willing to stretch out of your comfort zone that you can expect to grow into the best version of yourself.

About the Author

Sheila Johnson is a ZENthusiast. She makes self-care a priority now that she’s seen the consequences when she doesn’t. She found a routine that balances work life with taking care of her mental, emotional, and physical health. You may find more information about Sheila on her website at www.wellsheila.net.

Owner, Brandi Lewis, was a contributor to the article, “The Right Way to Tell Someone You Love They Should Try Therapy” by Nicole Pajer in the Huffington Post. Check it out below:

Photo By: MINDY JACOBS @mindyj

Owner, Brandi Lewis, spoke with Julia Ries from Rewire about what to do when you don’t agree with your parents political beliefs. Check out the article below:

Fireflies Unite is a podcast that helps to share the stories of people living and thriving with mental illness. Owner, Brandi Lewis, was featured on Episode 74, How Do I Know That My Therapist Is Right For Me? Check out the podcast below: