Tim I from Belgium - Co-Dependency and Addiction - Afro-Euro - Meeting

Tim I, a 50-year-old recovering alcoholic and codependent from Belgium, shares his powerful journey of addiction, recovery, and self-discovery in this RICO 12 Afro-Euro speaker meeting. Born into a dysfunctional family with a father who was an alcoholic, Tim recounts how he developed deep-seated codependency patterns—avoidance, low self-esteem, people-pleasing, denial, and controlling the uncontrollable—early in life as survival mechanisms. His addiction to alcohol and drugs escalated through his 20s and 30s, culminating in a mental health crisis at age 35 that included brain damage, anxiety attacks, psychosis, and suicidal thoughts. After 10 months of treatment and spiritual awakening, he achieved sobriety on February 15, 2012. Tim emphasizes that physical sobriety alone isn't enough; true recovery required confronting his inner world through the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous, which he calls his foundation. He also found critical healing through Cocaine Anonymous (CA) and Codependents Anonymous (CODA), particularly appreciating CODA’s structured workbook and focus on healthy relationships. His daily spiritual practice—prayer, meditation, journaling, and morning rituals—has become essential to maintaining balance. Tim stresses that recovery is not linear and that newcomers should first complete the 12 steps of AA or CA before engaging with CODA, as the latter can be emotionally triggering. He closes with a message of hope: surrender, honesty, willingness, and service are the keys to transformation.