9 Quotes by David Stafford

Non-alcoholic ways in which parents may not 'be there' for the children can include: - violence and sexual abuse - workholism - gambling - transquilliser addiction- - womanizing - frequent journeys abroad - death- suicide- being unemployed or unemployable- frequent hospitalisation- mental or physical handicap- excessive religiosity- rigid rules and regulations- homes where children are never allowed to be themselves but must always be pleasing to adults

Alcoholism is above all a disease of denial.

Whenever you feel compelled to put others first at the expense of yourself, you are denying your own reality, your own identity.

Resist trying to be what other people want you to be. Anyone in your life who tries to change you is really saying: as I can't control myself I will try and control you. By the same token, don't attempt to control other people's behaviour - it's not your place.

If you ever feel the person in your life needs rescuing, particularly from him or herself - beware. Codependency is rearing its head again.

Recovery [from codependency] may not always be comfortable at first for the other people in one's life. But it is always worth it because, actually, nobody ever respects a 'doormat'.

But codependency is inappropriate, over-the-top loyalty, caring and supportiveness.

Resist trying to be what other people want you to be. Anyone in your life who tries to change you is really saying: as I can’t control myself I will try and control you. By the same token, don’t attempt to control other people’s behaviour – it’s not your place.

If you ever feel the person in your life needs rescuing, particularly from him or herself – beware. Codependency is rearing its head again.