Several great books have been written on love addiction and codependence. Preview them here:
Codependent No More
by Melody Beattie
Recovery from love addiction has begun for millions of individuals with this straightforward guide. Through personal examples and exercises, readers are shown how controlling others forces them to lose sight of their own needs and happiness.
The Language of Letting Go
by Melody Beattie
Melody Beattie integrates her own life experiences and fundamental recovery reflections in this unique daily meditation book written especially for those of us who struggle with the issue of codependency.
Problems are made to be solved, Melody reminds us, and the best thing we can do is take responsibility for our own pain and self-care. In this daily inspirational book, Melody provides us with a thought to guide us through the day and she encourages us to remember that each day is an opportunity for growth and renewal.
Facing Codependence
by Pia Mellody
This is the book that propelled Pia Mellody into international prominence as an expert on the family dynamics of addiction. Articulate and reflective, she argues that love addicts and family members share the same history and characteristics.
The Human Magnet Syndrome: Why We Love People Who Hurt Us
by Ross Rosenberg
Since the dawn of civilization, men and women have been magnetically and irresistibly drawn together into romantic relationships, not so much by what they see, feel and think, but more by invisible forces. When individuals with healthy emotional backgrounds meet, the irresistible “love force” creates a sustainable, reciprocal and stable relationship. Codependents and emotional manipulators are similarly enveloped in a seductive dreamlike state; however, it will later unfold into a painful “seesaw” of love, pain, hope and disappointment. The soul mate of the codependent’s dreams will become the emotional manipulator of their nightmares. Readers of The Human Magnet Syndrome will better understand why they, despite their dreams for true love, find themselves hopelessly and painfully in love with partners who hurt them. This book will guide and inspire both the layman and the professional.
Facing Love Addiction
by Pia Mellody
The author of the best-selling Facing Codependence unravels the intricate dynamics of toxic love relationships and shows us how to let go of toxic love. In this revised and updated edition of Facing Love Addiction, internationally recognized dependence and addiction authority Pia Mellody clearly outlines the debilitating ‘toxic’ patterns played out by love addicts and the unresponsive love avoidants to whom they are painfully and repeatedly drawn.
Love Addict: Sex, Romance, and Other Dangerous Drugs
by Ethlie Ann Vare
Neuroscience now shows us–in living color, thanks to PET scans and fMRI technology–that falling in love affects our brains precisely the same way as snorting cocaine. Award-winning author and screenwriter Ethlie Ann Vare already knew that; she’s been addicted to both. She survived to tell the tale . . . with humor, honesty, and hope. With a light touch and a sharp wit, Ethlie has enlisted some famous love junkies–including supermodel Amber Smith, movie star William McNamara, and comedienne Margaret Cho–and the top therapists and researchers in the field to help lead you from the dark of despair into the dawn of recovery.
Ready To Heal
by Kelly McDaniel
Ready to Heal is a poignant guide to identifying when a relationship is unhealthy, as well as why that relationship became attractive to begin with. It outlines addictive behavior patterns as well as the link between childhood relationships and later choices. When the early patterns are addressed, you can begin to heal. When relationships become a drug, love hurts. Perhaps you, like many others, are experiencing the pain of an addictive relationship–the kind of relationship that’s painful to be in, yet impossible to leave. It may be your first such relationship, or you may have found yourself in a pattern that you just can’t seem to break.
Is It Love or Is It Addiction?
by Brenda Schaeffer
With more than 250,000 copies in print, Is It Love or Is It Addiction? has helped countless people find their way from the trials and confusions of addictive love to the fulfillment of whole and healthy relationships. In this second edition, psychotherapist Brenda Schaeffer draws on new developments in her practice, as well as a decade of feedback on love as an addiction, to expand her original insights and advice. The result is a fresh perspective on intimacy and an invaluable practical guide to making relationships work.
Women, Sex, and Addiction: A Search for Love and Power
by Charlotte Davis Kasl, Ph.D.
This book is a major contribution to the understanding and healing of sex addiction and romance addiction in women. It is full of wisdom and insight, shedding light on what happens to women in our society, how they survive it, and some roads to self-respect.
Mirror of Intimacy: Daily Reflections on Emotional and Erotic Intelligence
from Center for Healthy Sex
Increase your sexual potential to connect on a deeper level with your mate. This book is for anyone with a desire for more loving relationships and greater self-love. Mirror of Intimacy contains a year’s worth of daily reflections that explore and support the range of human sexualities as a divine gift and a human right. The reflections reference a rich array of approaches: attachment theory, mind/body nexus, neurobiology, 12-step principles, meditation techniques, Eastern and Western philosophy, and ancient world myths.
