ADULT CHILDREN OF ALCOHOLICS/DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILIES: Big Red Book

We became isolated and afraid of people and authority figures.

We are on a path to the Inner Child or the True Self.

We projected our abandoning parents onto a Higher Power, believing that God was vengeful or indifferent.

It is important to note that we have taken in or internalized both parents. This includes the parent who appears more functional compared to the alcoholic or chemically addicted parent. Our experience shows that the “functional” or nonalcoholic parent passes on just as many traits as the identified alcoholic. This “para-alcoholic” parent also passe

False Self – The addicted or codependent self.

adult children use both to mimic the feeling of being alive when in reality they are recreating a scene from their family of origin. Gossip, dramatic scenes, pending financial failure, or failing health are often the turmoil that adult children create in their lives to feel connected to reality.

We became addicted to excitement.

Perfectionism in dysfunctional homes fuels our control and our attempts to control people, places, and things.

We get guilt feelings when we stand up for ourselves instead of giving in to others.