My therapist laughs when I say that the pandemic hasn't affected me too much because it's not my fault. I laugh too. I couldn't have laughed before CoDA.

It's the truth. It's terrible for a lot of people but I am not overwhelmed by it. For years I lived with catastrophic dramas that were not really happening or caused myself a lot of pain for people who couldn't or didn’t care about me.

Now something bad is happening but I've learned how to be me—how to like and maybe even love me and that I can rely on myself. That's what CoDA gives me. I'm not imagining the problem or making it worse so it's not my fault. Before CoDA I couldn't cope with my daily life. Now thanks to CoDA I'm alright in a pandemic.

Claire G. 7/6/21

Everybody in CoDA has a story to tell. Sharing yours may help thousands of codependents still suffering. We are always accepting submissions. Please contribute your experience, strength and hope by emailing your story to wr@coda.org.