The codependency in me had runneth deep. I’m 39 and only now beginning to have a felt experience of freedom from the bondage of self and the chatter of what others have thought and do think about me…

I’m sober in 12 step recovery programs and one of the gnarliest things that I’ve noticed which will destroy an addict is their deep shame and the insecurity around what others think about them, family, friends, et al. You’re absolutely right. Caring about what others thought about me almost took me down for the count and ending up in some mental institution. That’s the extreme anyway.