ADULT CHILDREN OF ALCOHOLICS/DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILIES: Big Red Book

When we hear we are whole at our core, we wonder, “If this is true, why do I feel so unworthy or defective? Why can’t I seem to live from the truth of my wholeness?” The ACA recovery program brilliantly, gently and progressively unravels this dilemma and gradually returns us to our birthright of being whole, of being our True Self.

The insanity we speak of in Step Two refers to our continued efforts beyond all reason to heal or fix our family of origin through our current relationships.

Healthy adults are not attracted to the negative excitement of relationships in which people are attempting to use them to work out their own unaddressed childhood conundrums. Ironically, this attempt simply recreates the childhood drama anyway. Only personal inner responsibility and griefwork lets the curtain finally fall.

Of all the issues facing adult children, control is an issue that seems to take more time and patience to lessen. As children growing up in dysfunctional and sometimes dangerous homes, we had to stay in control of our emotions and thoughts to survive. To show emotion or make the “wrong” move could mean harm or humiliation. Letting go of control can