Ep 67: "My parents didn't drink but I can identify" with those from alcoholic homes

I’ve been thinking a lot about the conversation I had with Adam, which I talked about on episode 65. He pointed me back to the big red book, ACA’s version of the big book. Finally it clicked. I’ve been looking for a through line to help connect a better understanding of those struggling with alcoholism, drug addiction and mental health. One of the examples I came up with were around food. Everyone has some experience or another with trying to stop eating so much, cutting out sugar or other junk food and/oror getting on and off of diets. A lot of the behavior is similar. Obsession, compulsion, failure, relapse, shame, guilt and the list could go on. On this episode, I share the five most common characteristics of the Dysfunctional family that identify with this material yet, they didn’t have anybody in their household growing up that drank or did Illicit drugs. Common feelings and characteristics that come from children from this background are abandonment issues, shame, guilt, intimacy issues, perfection issues, overly critical of them selves and others, the inability to feel and share their feelings, victimhood and setting themselves up to be abandoned by their friends and spouses. See what you think about this subject and let me know with a comment or voicemail. I would love to hear from you. One last thing, if you have been listening to this podcast for a while and haven’t told your friends that it’s the best podcast around, YOOOO!, tell somebody!