The Adult Children of Alcoholics Syndrome: From Discovery to Recovery

This book solved a painful problem for me. It helped me first to see beyond my abstinent parents to my grandparents' alcohol problems. Next it suggested that my father could leave the alcohol, but bring an intense behavior pattern from that context.Finally, the classic "silence, denial, isolation, rigidity" matched exactly the symptoms that developed around the apparently unrelated situation of a paralyzing medical injury to my mother. To see this coming from my father unlocked my own personal history.I read Kritsberg after both my parents were dead, but it has allowed me to begin dissolving my inherited patterns, revisiting my parents' lives with greater compassion, and feeling hope.

This book has brought light and understanding to the way I have felt most of my life. I thought I was going crazy. It is to the point and clearly shows the intergenerational impact of alcoholism on the family and you, Even if the active alcoholism was not in your immediate family (grandparents or great grandparents etc. were / are alcoholics) It removes any doubt and denial as to how damaging and far reaching the effects of alcoholism are. It also includes practical work for overcoming the feelings of anxiety, shame, and isolation. Adult children of alcoholics syndrome has been a Godsend for me. Facing the truth, pain and dysfunction caused by alcoholism in our family has restored my hope for an emotionally balanced and healthy future for my family and myself.

ACOA Syndrome showed me the reasons behind the craziness in my life and taught me how to heal from it.

The discovery part was the most significant, because prior to this, I had no idea that I even had a problem. I continue to recover, as we all do, but the book has made things so clear that the recovery process is zipping along. I keep expecting a big crash but so far, nothing. Right now, I feel like the second luckiest man in the world. I will be the luckiest on the day my wife realizes this is all for real and she can break her wall down that I forced her to build for protection.I found the book at the Regina public library and after reading it, I needed to buy a copy for myself so I could use it for support for the rest of my life. Ironically, it was the last one available in our city and I was told it is no longer published. I needed a second copy as I gave mine to my sister who is also fighting her own battle.

If ANYONE in your family line has EVER been the child of an alcoholic...THIS IS A MUST READ FOR YOU! You'll learn how the child of an alcoholic carries the traits of the syndrome, ie lack of intimacy, lack of feelings, family myths etc. The biggest SHOCK was learning that THE CHILDREN WHO CHOOSE NOT TO DRINK.....CARRY THE SYNDROME AS WELL OR BETTER THAN THEIR SIBLINGS WHO MAY BECOME ALCOHOLICS THEMSELVES! LASTLY - REMEMBER THAT ALCOHOLISM IS NOT SOMETHING PEOPLE CHOOSE TO BE OR CHOOSE NOT TO BE..IT'S NOT WHO HAS THE WILLPOWER AND WHO DOESN'T...IF YOU HAVE ANY ALCOHOL ABUSE IN YOUR GENEOLOGY...READ THIS BOOK!