Adult Children of Alcoholics
ACOA | ACA | Adult Children
Smooth seas do not make skillful sailors.African proverb
THE EFFECTS OF AlCOHOL AND SUBSTANCE USE on ADULT CHILDREN OF ALCOHOLICS
Certain thoughts, behaviors and patterns naturally develop from being in close relationship with a person who has alcohol or substance use issues. For example, you might be overly responsible to counteract irresponsibility.
Unfortunately, while adapting in an attempt to retain connection with this person, you can lose connection with yourself. Many areas of your life can be adversely effected. Maybe you have lost friends, stopped doing your favorite hobby, experience pain in your body, have difficulty sleeping, perhaps even stopped laughing. I understand, these are all symptoms I have experienced too.
The following is a list of some common adaptations, coping skills or symptoms that Adult Children of Alcoholics experience. I invite you to read through it and see how many apply to you. Know that you are not alone, nor are you broken. You have choices and it is possible to reclaim your life. I did and you can too.
WHAT IS CODEPENDENCY?
Codependency is a term that means putting aside your needs in order to try to meet the needs of others, so you can maintain connection and a sense of belonging.
“We attempted to use others – our mates, friends, and even our children, as our sole source of identity, value and well being, and as a way of trying to restore within us the emotional losses from our childhoods. Our histories may include other powerful addictions which at times we have used to cope with our codependence.
~ Quoted from CoDA. org