Why co-dependents stay

How can you love someone who treats you with such contempt and disdain as only the alcoholic addict can?  The hurtful words and behaviors are most confounding for the co-dependent as they try to figure out why they stay.  My answer is: because you remember.  And what you remember is who they were before the alcohol and drugs turned them into someone you don’t even like.  You remember their loving ways, their kindness and the good times you had with them.  More importantly, you remember how they made you feel.  And that is why you stay, but you do not have to suffer the brunt of their downward spiral with them.

Tags: addict, alcoholic, co-dependents