Prodependence

Moving Beyond Codependency

By: Robert Weiss

Narrated by: Corey Gagne

Human beings are meant to work together, not to go it alone. We enter the world reliant on others for shelter, nutrition, and emotional support, and these core requirements to do not change as we grow older. Yet somehow, as we move into adulthood, our intrinsic need for emotional connection (i.e., love) gets discounted. This despite the fact that people who spend their lives "apart from" rather than "a part of" do not function as well as those who feel emotionally connected.

Nowhere is this more apparent than when dealing with addiction. Nevertheless, loved ones of addicts, instead of being encouraged to care for themselves as well as their addicted loved one, are often encouraged to care for themselves instead of their addicted loved one.

Prodependence, a new psychological term created by Robert Weiss to describe healthy interdependence in the modern world, turns this around. Rather that preaching detachment and distance over continued bonding and assistance, as so many therapists, self-help books, and 12-step groups currently do, prodependence celebrates the human need for and pursuit of intimate connection, viewing this as a positive force for change. Simply stated, prodependence occurs when attachment relationships are mutually beneficial - with one person's strengths filling in the weak points of the other, and vice versa. And this can occur even when an addiction is present.

In Prodependence, Weiss presents a research-based social and psychological understanding of human interdependence, accepting and even celebrating human interdependency in ways that are healthy and life-affirming for each person. This groundbreaking work presents a new paradigm for useful and healthy support, offering both the lay person and professional an evolved prism through which he or she can examine, evaluate, and improve not just relationships affected by addiction (though that's the primary focus of this audiobook), but relationships in general.

©2018 Robert Weiss (P)2018 Audible, Inc.

Keep an Open Mind

Having been introduced by my mother to the books Co-dependent No More and Women Who Love Too Much as a child, it always felt a little shaming and wrong to support those we loved who were addicts or whose behaviour was not healthy. This book sheds a more positive light on that love and offers hope and support that it is in fact not wrong, but courageous and admirable.

No such thing as loving too much!!

I love how Rob compares it to someone being diagnosed with cancer...
No one would bat an eye if we continued to care for our loved one in that situation yet when we care for the addict, we are Codependent?!?! I think not! Thank you for such a great book Rob!
#prodependentforlife

Brilliant and long overdue

It’s time to stop shaming and blaming and pathologizing those close to the addict. I encourage everyone who has love an addict to read this book

Just what I needed but wish there was more

As the spouse of an addict, I felt deeply heard and seen for my efforts to keep our marriage together. This book was just what I needed to break free of the constant negative “codependency” idea. I just wish I had more tools that I could apply to my own situation, but perhaps that has to be done in therapy.

Caring for the Support Community -- finally.

A real, and respectful support model for those who love people with issues. I'm sending this book everywhere and bringing it to my church.

Preatty innovating

Very insightful in to how the other half lives and perceives
Life with an addict.
Its about time this idea took off.

A game-changer.

As a psychotherapist for over 30 years, I found this book to be incredibly helpful in reframing what I have seen in my office. Kudos to Dr. Weiss!

Very helpful book

Thank you for writing this book. I appreciate the concepts and support in this book.

Wonderful Help

As the wife of an addict who was labeled codependent, I want to thank you for this book. I spent 6 months with a therapist who kept trying to put me in a box I didn't fit in and telling me how unhealthy I was without even listening to me first. I left my sessions confused and hurting rather than hopeful. What I needed was someone to guide me on a path to help more effectively rather than shame me for doing the best I could in the middle of my crisis. If you know or are married to an addict, read this book. You will find help and compassion and search for better help now that you know it does exist.

Great read! Hits the nail on the head.

this book was fantastic and describing the needs of the loved ones of an addict. It absolutely is the information that is needed to treat the loved ones. Easy to accept and understand makes great sense.