Codependency doesn't just affect romantic relationships—it can appear in our friendships too, creating anxiety, over-functioning, and emotional entanglement that feels just as intense without the relationship label. Emotional intimacy is emotional intimacy, regardless of whether it's with a friend or partner, and our attachment patterns don't discriminate.

• Friendships lack the clear definitions and expectations that romantic relationships have—there's no "define the relationship" talk or breakup script
• Unspoken friendship rules create confusion, especially for those with codependent tendencies who overfunction to maintain connections
• Friendship grief is just as valid as romantic heartbreak, though society rarely acknowledges it in the same way
• Jealousy and fear can emerge when friends develop new relationships or life changes, triggering abandonment wounds
• Notice which friendships feel genuinely safe versus which ones just feel familiar due to shared history

Send me a message

I am so excited to share my codependency recovery workbook with you. Click on the link to be brough to Enough As I Am on Amazon.

Mental health and codependency intersect in profound ways that affect how we treat ourselves, not just our relationships with others. We explore four key patterns that keep us stuck in cycles of burnout, guilt, and emotional exhaustion while providing practical steps toward healing.

We will explore how:

• People-pleasing isn't just politeness but a nervous system survival response developed in childhood
• Self-abandonment occurs when we consistently put others first regardless of the cost to ourselves
• Chronic guilt and shame keep us stuck in patterns of overgiving even when it's harming our wellbeing
• Emotional over-responsibility leads to burnout when we take ownership of others' feelings and problems

Whether you're deep into your healing journey or just beginning to wonder why you're so tired all the time, this episode offers both validation and practical steps forward. Because you don't need to set yourself on fire to keep everyone else warm. 

Send me a message

I am so excited to share my codependency recovery workbook with you. Click on the link to be brough to Enough As I Am on Amazon.

In this bonus episode for Mental Health Awareness Month, Dr. Angela Downey shares five powerful mindset shifts that challenge how we think about healing and self-care:

• Healing isn’t linear — Growth often looks messy, not perfect.
• You can struggle and still be strong — Vulnerability is courage, not weakness.
• Feeling your feelings isn’t weakness — Emotions are messengers, not problems to fix.
• Rest is productive — You don’t need to earn your downtime.
• Boundaries protect your peace — Limits aren’t selfish, they’re essential.

This episode is for anyone navigating burnout, people-pleasing, codependency, or just feeling overwhelmed by mental health advice that doesn’t reflect real life.

Send me a message

I am so excited to share my codependency recovery workbook with you. Click on the link to be brough to Enough As I Am on Amazon.

The quietest form of trauma often leaves the deepest marks. If you've always been "the strong one," the helper, or the person who never rocks the boat, this episode on emotional neglect might explain why you still struggle with relationships as an adult.

Emotional neglect isn't defined by dramatic incidents but rather by what didn't happen in your childhood. Your basic needs may have been met, but when you experienced difficult emotions, no one helped you name them or comfort you through them. Those experiences taught you that your feelings were inconvenient, that you were inconvenient when you had needs – setting the perfect foundation for codependency.

When your emotional blueprint was built on the belief that love had to be earned by being easy, helpful, or low maintenance, it's no wonder you might find yourself drawn to emotionally unavailable people. That familiar feeling of longing, of waiting for someone to finally choose you, isn't just chemistry – it's your nervous system trying to resolve old wounds through repetition compulsion.

The most damaging side effect of emotional neglect is the quiet belief that you were somehow the problem – that if you had just been better, quieter, or less emotional, someone would have loved you properly. This hidden narrative drives perfectionism, people-pleasing, and the exhausting cycle of trying to earn love that should have been freely given.

Healing begins when you recognize that you were never too much; you were simply not given enough.

What would change if you stopped trying to be chosen and started choosing yourself? The answer might just be everything.

Send me a message

I am so excited to share my codependency recovery workbook with you. Click on the link to be brough to Enough As I Am on Amazon.

Ever caught yourself saying "it's not that bad" when you're feeling overwhelmed, exhausted, or simply not yourself? That seemingly innocent phrase carries enormous weight, subtly convincing us to minimize our struggles and postpone getting the support we truly need.

This Mental Health Awareness Month bonus episode tackles high-functioning distress—that space where you're managing responsibilities, showing up for others, and appearing put-together while feeling completely drained inside. Through personal stories and gentle insights, Dr. Angela Downey reveals how functioning doesn't equal thriving, and why waiting until we're at our breaking point to seek help robs us of preventative care that could change everything.

The episode explores why codependents, people pleasers, and overachievers are particularly susceptible to downplaying their mental health needs. Dr. Downey shares a powerful personal experience of receiving a spa day gift only to discover her nervous system had forgotten how to relax—a wake-up call that being "fine" on paper doesn't mean you're well. She challenges the false dichotomy that suggests we can't be both grateful and struggling simultaneously, offering a more compassionate framework for validating our experiences.

Most importantly, this episode reframes mental health support as preventative rather than reactive. Just as we wouldn't wait for a cavity before brushing our teeth or an engine failure before changing our oil, we shouldn't postpone mental healthcare until we're in crisis. Whether you're the family rock, the eternal caregiver, or the high-achieving perfectionist, you deserve support before everything crumbles. Small steps count—booking a therapy consult, admitting to a friend you're struggling, or simply acknowledging to yourself that you're not okay right now. Beca

Send me a message

I am so excited to share my codependency recovery workbook with you. Click on the link to be brough to Enough As I Am on Amazon.

In this episode of The Codependent Doctor, I dive deep into the phenomenon of love bombing—a term I only discovered a few years ago, despite having experienced it firsthand. We explore what love bombing really is: an overwhelming display of affection, attention, and promises that can feel intoxicating but often masks emotional manipulation.

I share my personal experiences, including a time when I rushed a relationship by introducing someone to my entire family after just one date, highlighting how easy it is to mistake intense feelings for genuine connection. We discuss the psychological and biological factors that make love bombing so effective, especially for those of us with unmet emotional needs or past traumas.

Throughout the episode, I provide listeners with practical tools to identify red flags of love bombing, such as feeling overwhelmed, noticing inconsistencies between words and actions, and experiencing pressure to reciprocate intensity. I emphasize the importance of trusting your gut and recognizing that healthy love unfolds over time, respecting boundaries and individual needs.

By the end of the episode, I hope to empower you with the knowledge to protect your heart and foster healthier relationships. Remember, love bombing is not true love; it’s intensity in disguise. Join me next week as we tackle the topic of neglect. Thank you for listening, and take care of yourselves!

Send me a message

I am so excited to share my codependency recovery workbook with you. Click on the link to be brough to Enough As I Am on Amazon.

We often think mental health transformation requires dramatic life changes, but what if the most powerful shifts happen through tiny, consistent habits? That's exactly what I discovered through my own journey of healing from codependency and burnout.

In this intimate bonus episode for Mental Health Awareness Month, I share six small mindset shifts that fundamentally changed my relationship with myself and others. From learning to pause before automatically saying "yes" to embracing rest without guilt, these practices aren't revolutionary—they're accessible, everyday tools anyone can implement without feeling overwhelmed.

My journey began with noticing how harshly I spoke to myself—words I'd never direct at someone I loved. When my daughter pointed this out, it sparked a gradual transformation in my self-talk. Similarly, I had to slowly rewrite deep-seated negative beliefs about myself, not by forcing positivity but by finding authentic stepping stones toward self-acceptance. Even something as simple as noting one small moment of gratitude each day has softened how I experience difficult times.

Perhaps most powerful for someone with codependent tendencies was learning that boundaries don't need grand announcements—sometimes they're as quiet as not immediately responding to a message or leaving a gathering when your energy depletes. These small acts of self-protection have helped my nervous system finally exhale.

The beautiful thing about these practices is that you don't need to master them all at once. Mental health isn't about perfection; it's about showing up for yourself in real, everyday ways. If something here resonates, try incorporating just one tiny shift. Your healing journey doesn't need to be dramatic to be profound—sometimes it starts with just one small habit.

Send me a message

I am so excited to share my codependency recovery workbook with you. Click on the link to be brough to Enough As I Am on Amazon.

In this episode of The Codependent Doctor, I delve into the painful experience of the silent treatment—what it is, why people use it, and how it can deeply affect relationships. I share my own experiences with the silent treatment and highlight how it can trigger feelings of confusion, shame, and anxiety, especially for those who have grown up in environments where silence was used as a form of punishment.

We explore the underlying reasons why individuals resort to the silent treatment, including a desire for control, emotional immaturity, and learned behaviors from childhood. I emphasize that this form of emotional withdrawal is not just hurtful in the moment but can leave lasting scars, eroding trust and emotional intimacy in relationships.

I also discuss the difference between healthy communication and the silent treatment, stressing the importance of expressing feelings rather than withdrawing. For those who find themselves on the receiving end, I encourage listeners to recognize their worth and set boundaries, while also considering the patterns they are willing to accept in their relationships.

As we wrap up, I offer reflection exercises to help listeners examine their own communication styles and conflict resolution strategies. Remember, it's about growth and learning healthier ways to handle conflict without resorting to silence as a weapon. Join me next week as we tackle the topic of love bombing and what to watch out for in relationships. Thank you for being part of this journey towards healthier connections!

Send me a message

I am so excited to share my codependency recovery workbook with you. Click on the link to be brough to Enough As I Am on Amazon.

What does it really mean to take care of our mental health? Beyond diagnoses and therapy sessions lies the everyday work of nurturing our emotional well-being—a practice we often overlook until we're approaching burnout.

During Mental Health Awareness Month, I wanted to share some hard-won insights about what mental wellness actually looks like in our daily lives. Through a recent experience where my brain immediately jumped to worst-case scenarios about a simple meeting with my boss, I demonstrate how even when we're doing well, our mental health requires ongoing attention. That primitive "lizard brain" response doesn't disappear; we simply get better at recognizing and managing it before spiraling.

For those of us with codependent tendencies, this journey presents unique challenges. When you're accustomed to prioritizing everyone else's needs, simply asking yourself "what do I need today?" can feel foreign or selfish. Yet that question has transformed from feeling indulgent to essential in my own healing journey. Mental health isn't about fixing something broken—it's about consistent, compassionate self-care through small daily acts: saying no without over-explaining, allowing yourself to rest before exhaustion forces you to stop, or taking five minutes to breathe when overwhelmed.

The myth that strength means never needing support has caused untold damage. True strength lies in vulnerability—in acknowledging when you can't do it all alone. You don't need to wait for a crisis to deserve attention to your mental well-being. Like tending a garden, the small acts of care you provide yourself today create the foundation for resilience tomorrow. This Mental Health Awareness Month, I invite you to join me in normalizing everyday mental health practices. You are worth that care.

Send me a message

I am so excited to share my codependency recovery workbook with you. Click on the link to be brough to Enough As I Am on Amazon.

In this episode of The Codependent Doctor, I delve into the concept of losing ourselves in the roles we play, whether as a professional, a parent, or a caregiver. Many of us tie our self-worth to our titles and responsibilities, often without realizing it, leading to feelings of being stuck, lost, or drained. I share my personal journey of how I identified too closely with my role as a doctor, to the point where I struggled to articulate who I was beyond that title.

We explore the societal pressures that encourage us to define ourselves by our achievements and productivity, often at the expense of our true selves. I discuss the risks of this mindset, including burnout, fear of change, and the slow loss of personal identity.

To help listeners reconnect with their authentic selves, I offer practical steps, such as spending time alone, revisiting old hobbies, and asking reflective questions about joy and identity. I encourage everyone to introduce themselves in ways that reflect their passions rather than their roles, and to embrace the complexity of being more than just a title.

As I wrap up, I share my excitement about my upcoming book, Enough As I Am, which focuses on self-acceptance and personal growth. I invite listeners to engage with journal exercises that promote self-discovery.

 Remember, you are enough just as you are, and it's time to reclaim your authentic self.

Send me a message

I am so excited to share my codependency recovery workbook with you. Click on the link to be brough to Enough As I Am on Amazon.