Early Warning Signs
- Situational loss of daily structure.
Lack of personal care
Inability to effectively set and maintain limits
Loss of constructive planning
Indecision
Compulsive behavior
fatigue or lack of rest
return to unreasonable resentments
return to the tendency to control people, situations, and things
defensiveness
self pity
overspending/worrying about money
eating disorder
scapegoating
Acute Co-dependent Crisis
- Return to fear and general anxiety
loss of belief in a higher power
attendance in 12 step program becomes sporadic
mind racing
inability to construct a logical chain of thought
confusion
sleep disturbance
behavioral loss of control
uncontrollable mood swings
failure to maintain interpersonal(informal) support systems
feelings of isolation and loneliness
tunnel vision
return of periods of free floating anxiety and or panic attacks
health problems
use of medication or alcohol as a means to cope
total abandonment of support meetings, therapy sessions
Debilitation Stage
- Inability to change behaviors in spite of conscious awareness that it is
self-defeating.
development of an “I don’t care ” attitude
complete loss of daily structure
despair and suicidal thoughts
major physical collapse
major emotional collapse