799 The HFC Recovery Code: 11 Truths for Healing High-Functioning Codependency

Do you think you're codependent? Or are you unsure? In this post, I'm going to walk you through nine questions to help you understand, pretty conclusively, if you are a high-functioning codependent. I want you to walk away with a clear snapshot of your own codependent behaviors. And I want to be clear: this is a no-judgment zone. If we get really judgmental, we're not going to look at what we need to look at. If we let shame dictate what we examine, we'll stay in denial. And then nothing changes. You deserve to create relationships, lives, and careers that thrill and fulfill you. So let's look honestly at where you are. Read the show notes for today's episode at terricole.com/800

When you're a high-functioning codependent, you don't look stuck. You look capable. You're the one who pulls everything together, gets it all done, and rarely asks for help. People see you as someone who has it handled. But there's a cost. And recovering from being a high-functioning codependent is the path to living the happy, healthy, balanced life you deserve. I created the HFC Recovery Code because people kept asking me for a condensed list to help them remember their rights and responsibilities when they're feeling overwhelmed or pulled toward doing too much. Read the show notes for today's episode at terricole.com/799

I want to start with a question. When you want something, do you have a way of talking yourself out of it? Like, let's be "realistic"? Or say the odds are slim? Do you allow yourself to want what you want with all your heart? That's what this episode of The Terri Cole Show is all about. We're going to talk about manifesting. Note: This is a little woo, I'll admit. But this is one real aspect of how I've created my current life. I believe that what we think about and what we feel impacts what happens in our lives. So let's get into it. Read the show notes for today's episode at terricole.com/798

In my almost three decades as a psychotherapist, I've seen passive-aggressive anger quietly destroy more relationships than infidelity. It's a slow drip of poison. And most of us don't even realize we're doing it. Do you ever say you're fine when you're not? Use sarcasm to let someone know you're pissed off instead of just saying it? Or are you ever on the receiving end of these behaviors? If you've done it or been on the receiving end of it, welcome to being a human in relationships with other people. On this episode of The Terri Cole Show, we are going to discuss passive-aggressive anger. Why we do it, what it looks like, and what we can do instead. Read the show notes for today's episode at terricole.com/797

When two people with the same traumatic experience find one another, is it an incredible coincidence, or simple fate? Gabrielle Stone and Taymour Ghazi don't know the answer either, but it happened to them. On today's episode, Gabrielle and Taymour share their long journey to finding one another and holding one another in healing after each had a childhood experience encountering the bodies of their deceased parents. They also describe how they found time to write their new book Finding You Through Finding Me while also caring for their newborn child. Read the show notes for today's episode at terricole.com/796

Have you ever looked at people who seem to have figured it out? They're in their sixties, seventies, or eighties, and they're healthy. They're happy. They're in great relationships. And you think, "what do they know that I don't?"  Guess what? We don't have to wonder anymore. The Harvard Study of Adult Development is the longest longitudinal study ever done on physical and emotional well-being. Over 80 years, researchers tracked people across their entire lives to answer one question: what actually makes life feel good? The results were surprising: The quality of your relationships is the number one predictor of your mental health, your physical health, and your overall life satisfaction. It isn't money, success, fame, productivity, or hustling harder. It's not achieving some perfect version of yourself. On today's episode, I'm sharing some objective ways you can make your life happier and healthier, according to 80 years of research. Read the show notes for today's episode at terricole.com/795

Before you write a single resolution this year, I want you to try something different. It's a ritual I've been doing for over a decade, and it's completely changed how I move from one year into the next. Here's the thing: New Year's resolutions don't work. And I'm inviting you right now to trade yours in for something that will not only open your mind and your heart, but will powerfully clear the way for you to actually create what you want for the next 12 months. Here's why resolutions fall flat: we try to decide what we want to change without ever processing the year that just happened. How can we know what shifts we need to make if we haven't unpacked where we've been? This ritual is different. My hope is that it helps you process the experiences of 2025, raise your awareness about the lessons learned, and release what no longer serves you as we move into the next twelve months. Read the show notes for today's episode at terricole.com/794 Apply for the Terri Cole Membership if you want guidance in nurturing the healthy, connected life you deserve: https://www.terricole.com/tcm/  

Discover why menopause isn't the end—it's your most powerful beginning. Dr. Mindy Pelz, bestselling author of "Age Like a Girl," reveals the groundbreaking neuroscience behind menopause and how this transition rewires your brain for leadership, confidence, and purpose. Learn why 40% of our lives are designed to be lived WITHOUT our reproductive system, the evolutionary "grandmother hypothesis," and practical tools to navigate this transformation. From the neurochemical shift that eliminates people-pleasing to finding what truly brings you joy, this conversation will completely change how you view menopause. Perfect for women in perimenopause, menopause, or post-menopause—plus anyone who wants to understand this revolutionary life stage. Read the show notes for today's episode at terricole.com/793

Do you feel like you're overworking without feeling satisfied? Do you have difficulty accepting praise or compliments? Do you suffer from perfectionism? Do you have trouble asserting yourself with your clients? If you're nodding your head yes, then today's episode is for you! On today's episode, we're exploring how your inner child might be influencing your business decisions and how to put your adult self back in charge. Read the show notes for today's episode at terricole.com/792

The fawn response is the fourth trauma reaction beyond fight, flight, and freeze. Childhood experiences create patterns of people-pleasing that disconnect you from yourself. Meg shares her personal journey from a volatile, addiction-affected home to clear boundaries. Along the way, she reveals practical tools including her NICER technique for managing anxiety and overthinking. Stop self-silencing, set boundaries without guilt, and reconnect with your authentic self. Are you struggling with people-pleasing, conflict avoidance, or feeling uncertain who you really are? This episode is perfect for you. Plus, we chat about grieving relationships that will never be and creating a sense of home within yourself. Read the show notes for today's episode at terricole.com/791