Lifesupporters.com Forums - View Single Post - Adult Children of Alcoholics

Luba · 03-04-2007, 05:12 PM

http://www.allaboutlifechallenges.or...alcoholics.htm

Secrecy - When you grow up in the home of alcoholic parents, you tend to think that your household is the only one that has the problems that go along with alcoholism.

Adult Children of Alcoholics Findin problems that go along with alcoholism.

Others become responsible, miniature adults.

The coping behaviors of childhood often carry into the lives of adult children of alcoholics.

The super responsible person may grow into an adult, demanding perfection of him or herself and those around them.

Many adult children of alcoholics experience low self-esteem, a difficult time enjoying life, too serious of an attitude about him or herself, a need to constantly seek the approval of others, and trying to find affirmation that they are okay as a person.

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I've worked incredibly hard in my life overcoming that last paragraph. I do not experience low self-esteem anymore, but it took SO many, many years to overcome that! I shudder at how many years I've wasted losing many, many irreplaceable hours over that one figuring EVERYBODY was better than me! I married into a family that SEEMED so loving and close to each other until I finally stood up for myself. That's a whole other story. I couldn't believe when people told me I took everything so seriously, and did finally discover that to be true, and then a POSITIVE thing happened. I discovered how much I LOVED to laugh! It was like releasing a dam, all that pent up laughter just waiting to bubble up to the surface. A serious look from another would make me wonder "What did I do wrong?" Wow! It has taken so much inner work to get through all that! Sometimes I find I still revert to some of those behaviours, but I know what they are now and how to deal with them in an instant! Takes a LOT of work and now I can say I'm a very contented and grateful person!

03-04-2007, 05:12 PM	#1 (permalink)
Luba Moderator Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 11,268	Adult Children of Alcoholics - Home life http://www.allaboutlifechallenges.or...alcoholics.htm Secrecy - When you grow up in the home of alcoholic parents, you tend to think that your household is the only one that has the problems that go along with alcoholism. Adult Children of Alcoholics Findin problems that go along with alcoholism. Others become responsible, miniature adults. The coping behaviors of childhood often carry into the lives of adult children of alcoholics. The super responsible person may grow into an adult, demanding perfection of him or herself and those around them. Many adult children of alcoholics experience low self-esteem, a difficult time enjoying life, too serious of an attitude about him or herself, a need to constantly seek the approval of others, and trying to find affirmation that they are okay as a person. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I've worked incredibly hard in my life overcoming that last paragraph. I do not experience low self-esteem anymore, but it took SO many, many years to overcome that! I shudder at how many years I've wasted losing many, many irreplaceable hours over that one figuring EVERYBODY was better than me! I married into a family that SEEMED so loving and close to each other until I finally stood up for myself. That's a whole other story. I couldn't believe when people told me I took everything so seriously, and did finally discover that to be true, and then a POSITIVE thing happened. I discovered how much I LOVED to laugh! It was like releasing a dam, all that pent up laughter just waiting to bubble up to the surface. A serious look from another would make me wonder "What did I do wrong?" Wow! It has taken so much inner work to get through all that! Sometimes I find I still revert to some of those behaviours, but I know what they are now and how to deal with them in an instant! Takes a LOT of work and now I can say I'm a very contented and grateful person!