Codependent No More: How to Stop Controlling Others and Start Caring for Yourself

Melody Beattie is an American author, journalist, and self-help expert, best known for her pioneering work in the field of codependency. Born in 1948 in St. Paul, Minnesota, Beattie had a challenging childhood marked by neglect, abuse, and early exposure to alcohol and drugs. Beattie’s mother was married multiple times, and Beattie’s siblings were subjected to various forms of abuse. As a young girl, Beattie turned to alcohol and drugs to cope with the trauma, leading to addiction that would last for many years. In her early 20s, Beattie found herself in a series of unhealthy relationships, including a brief marriage that ended shortly after the birth of her son. This experience, combined with her own substance abuse issues, led her to seek help and ultimately pursue a path of recovery.

Beattie began attending Alcoholics Anonymous, which helped her immensely in her recovery. After two years of sobriety, she married a man who was well-known for his work in the chemical dependency field. However, she soon found out that claiming that he was seven years sober, he was still abusing alcohol. Beattie, who had previously felt like she didn’t understand the behaviors of codependents, found herself becoming