Released From Bondage

Hi, my name is Olivia. I have been in CoDA seriously for about 20 years. The first couple of years I didn’t seriously work the program. I just wanted to be better. I wanted to be healed. I wanted my feelings of loneliness to disappear. Then about three years ago I seriously started working the program. I chose a sponsor and we worked through the Twelve Steps workbook doing the work. I attended meetings regularly and shared regularly from the bottom of my heart and soul, really sharing who I was, of my fears and loneliness.  

Slowly through working the program, working the Steps, sharing gut level with my fellow CoDA friends in each meeting has released me from the bondage I felt. I feel this program is God sent to me. It is a miracle. I now love myself, respect myself and trust myself. I am no longer afraid of others. I feel equal to others, no matter their standing in life. I know I am a miracle of God.  

Relationships were very difficult for me. Now I have relationships with equal partners. I am in love for the first time in my life! I demand respect from both my partner and my friends. I no longer have to look to others for my feelings of self-worth. I have that power within me with God‘s grace. Praise God! My two failed marriages were because I didn’t love myself so I couldn’t love someone else with the love they deserved. I could not freely love with abandonment because I was too scared.  Now I am free. I am not saying that I don’t suffer from occasional codependent episodes but now I realize while I am in them that I can step out and trust myself and honor myself and my feelings and choose health. I hope this helps someone out there who reads this that there is hope and freedom in this program. 

With much love.   
Olivia, a grateful recovering codependent.
09.02.2025