Leah Clarke

“You may find yourself feeling as though you are constantly trapped doing everything for everyone else because you are not able to speak up and say no. If you are in a codependent relationship, chances are that your partner has recognized this weakness in you and has been exploiting it for their own gain, such as in our previous example of having you take responsibility for their consequences.”
― Leah Clarke, Courage to Cure Codependency: Healthy Detachment Strategies to Overcome Jealousy in Relationships, Stop Controlling Others, Boost Your Self Esteem, and Be Codependent No More

“According to the National Center for PTSD, self-care following toxic relationships can bring up emotions of humiliation, shame or guilt when you begin engaging in self-care because it was not only something you didn’t do but something you felt that you couldn’t do. It may feel like by taking care of yourself, you are robbing someone else of having their needs met, which is completely untrue, but a common feeling nonetheless. Allowing yourself to recognize these feelings but carry on with the process of learning the art of self-care is important.”
― Leah Clarke, Courage to Cure Codependency: Healthy Detachment Strategies to Overcome Jealousy in Relationships, Stop Controlling Others, Boost Your Self Esteem, and Be Codependent No More