Originally Posted by
goldengirl3 
I guess I do think that to a degree. It is really hard and embarrassing when you grow up with a self-centered single parent who has abused you and shoved into your psyche that it's your job to caretake them and if you don't, they abuse you and neglect you and abandon you. it's all you've known. And then here you are in your 30's trying to understand that someone else's problems aren't your fault and aren't your problems to take care of and it's like the old movie "Invasion of the body snatchers." People point and scream "AUUUUUGGGGGGG codependent!!" lol.
It's hard to unlearn things like that. My parents weren't alcoholics, but they had all the "isms" anyway.
You have to move forward the best you can. Your way and someone else's way don't have to be the same.