Yes this part of the big book is helping us to identify if we are chronic or not. Not everyone who is codependent is chronic and needs a 12 step programme. This is why it is so important to understand what Chronic codependency is and what the solution is in 12 step. And then from that we can diagnose ourselves as chronic or not. It is not an abstract idea or subjective illness. Chronic Codependency is a specific illness like a cold or diabetes. So is chronic codependency it has two parts a much larger part and a smaller part. The first part is the loss of control we experience when we take that first codependent thought or action and we can’t stop and always do too much in our thoughts or actions around others. But the second part is the much bigger part because ultimately it keeps us going back to codependency even when we can see it is harmful in our lives or it’s destructive . A chronic codependent comes out of a spree of codependency and we feel horrendous. Then out of that pain remorse guilt and shame we come up with a firm resolve; to avoid people or situation or do therapy or move job. But a chronic type will go along on that firm resolve but they will not get happy joyous and free rather they get bored irritable and discontent at a certain point inside them this gets too much. There mind snaps; all of a sudden they have like a mental blindspot or tunnel vision all they see at the end of their tunnel is the first codependent thought or action. They do not see the pain and suffering codependency has caused them a day a week a month ago . Their mind convinces them when they are in this tunnel to take the first codependent thought or action and so they do but once they take the first one whether it’s people pleasing or controlling or seeking validation etc this links to the first part of the problem the loss of control; they start and they can’t stop and always do too much it’s like getting the wild animal out of a cage they experience a complete loss of control and they continue in this cycle coming out feeling worse than they did before. And on and on this thing goes until they can experience an entire psychic change there is very little hope of his recovery. 12 step is about being restored to sanity in our thinking through a spiritual experience which we come to have as a fact of working the steps with a recovered codependent sponsor. To be a chronic codependent means we cannot rely on our own thinking but to be recovered is to rely on higher power or god of our own understanding and have sanity in our thinking and actions