www.capcomts.com www.movementforlife.com/desert www.palmdesertsmiles.com There is hope in finding the way out. Let’s explore a few ways to attain freedom from codependency. Love your inner child. Codependent behaviors develop to cope with painful, unanswerable questions. Young children cannot think abstractly or outside the box until approximately age 12. After a traumatic experience, they may hold onto feelings of inadequacy or fault that don’t go away. It’s time to develop a safe, loving relationship with your inner child. Let the child within know they are loved unconditionally and safe from harm. When you champion your inner child, you can allow yourself the gift of finally exploring life through an adult lens. Prize and praise yourself. Instead of getting lost in the abyss of another, it’s time to acknowledge your own gifts and attributes. There is no one like you, and it’s your time to shine! Read the Codependent Bill of Rights. I encourage you to read the Codependent Bill of Rights, a therapeutic concept promoting self-care, self-worth and the right to emotional safety that has evolved over time within the recovery movement. Attend CODA meetings. Codependents Anonymous also offers in-person and online meetings. Take advantage of the support, nurturing and understanding these groups can provide. Isn’t it time to come home to yourself? Breaking free may feel challenging, but you won’t regret the journey. Dr. Amy Austin is a licensed marriage and family therapist (MFC#41252) and doctor of clinical psychology. She can be reached at (760) 774.0047. www.DesertHealthNews.com September/October 2026 Medical News The Valley's Leading Resource for Health and Wellness 4 Codependency can cause emotional conflict within. www.palmdesertsmiles.com The latest technologies for a healthier, more youthful smile Technology in dentistry is very exciting and evolves as new materials and equipment are introduced. 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CapComTS.com 760.424.2216 info@CapComTS.com CapCom / Desert Health / one-eighth-page horizontal ad / size: 4.875” W x 3.562” H It’s been said that when you die, a split-second tape of your entire life plays in your head. There’s a joke among codependents that when they die, the tape that plays in their head is someone else’s life. A codependent will sacrifice their thoughts, wants and needs for those of another. They will give and give some more, subconsciously searching for approval and/or validation to fill a void. That emptiness is a sensation of not feeling valued or feeling like they are not enough. Codependents are addicted to another person (sometimes called “relationship addiction”) and believe they cannot function without the relationship. The need to manage, fix, caretake and problem solve becomes paramount in their lives. As harmful as substance abuse, the compulsive nature of codependency can lead one down a dark path of emotional conflict and turmoil, wreaking havoc on a daily basis. A codependent’s sense of self becomes blurred, and it can be almost impossible to discern where they end and the other begins. Last on their list of priorities is self-care. Codependency, at its core, is not a negative trait. We hopefully seek to extend ourselves beyond the narrow confines of our egocentric selves to find meaning, fulfillment and purpose in performing selfless acts. But for individuals who have grown up with an insecure attachment to their primary caregivers, filling an emotionally empty vessel can become an unresolved lifelong need. Poor boundary setting, people-pleasing and difficulty asserting wants and needs are but a few of the dysfunctional challenges that codependents face. Break Free from Codependency By Amy Austin, PsyD, LMFT Activities that promote neuroplasticity, the brain’s ability to change and adapt by forming and reorganizing neural connections, are at the forefront of dementia prevention and intervention. Regular exercise is widely known to stimulate neuroplasticity and may play a protective role against dementia, but what is less known is that dancing offers unique benefits.1,2,3 In the early 2000s, researchers examined data collected in a previous study for potential relationships between participation in leisure activities and dementia risk. The first study, The Bronx Aging Study, tracked participation in various leisure activities (six cognitive and 11 physical) and the frequency of participation in adults ages 75-85. Researchers conducted extensive evaluations every 12 to 18 months for up to 21 years. This analysis was published in the New England Journal of Medicine, and the results were surprising. Regular dance (defined as once a week) was the only physical activity associated with a significantly lower risk of dementia—a staggering 76% lower! Dancing also outperformed all cognitive activities, including crossword puzzles (four times a week or more) by 50% and reading by 100%. What makes dance so special? Dance stimulates neuroplasticity through “dual-task” activity, simultaneously activating both physical and cognitive areas of the brain. It is more intricate than other activities such as swimming or walking, as it involves bilateral motor skills, balance, advanced coordination, rapid weight change, pattern recognition and memorization, auditory processing and timing and spatial awareness. 4,5 Recent research also shows dance as a promising intervention. A 2024 randomized control trial found that a six-month dance program helped preserve cardiorespiratory fitness in older adults with mild cognitive impairment, while such fitness declined in the control (non-dancing) group.¡ A 2017 study of older adults found that six months of dance training produced greater changes in measures associated with neuroplasticity than a conventional fitness program involving repetitive exercises.¢ And a 2025 review found that dual-task training (such as dance) improved both attention and speed of processing by up to 14% in people with neurodegenerative disorders.£ Dance is not just physical exercise. It enhances non-verbal communication, supports social and emotional well-being, allows for creative expression and activates systems associated with empathy, emotion and understanding of others. (5) Common symptoms of dementia (anxiety, agitation, and depression) can also be reduced from being in a structured and predictable environment.¤ The beautifully distinct blend of complex physical, mental and emotional processing that is unique to dance is good for body and mind. This social activity could be considered as part of a holistic approach to health, wellness and longevity. So, dust off those dancing shoes and get out on the dance floor! Dr. Shari Jainuddin is a naturopathic primary care doctor at One Life Naturopathic and also offers biofeedback training and craniosacral therapy. For more information, call (442) 256.5963 or visit www.onelifenaturopathic.org. References available upon request. Dust Off Your Dancing Shoes Dance is medicine for the mind By Shari Jainuddin, NMD, BCB
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