2001 North American Conference

Conference Presentation Materials

NDEs and the 12 Steps

presented by
Karl Williamson
Chris Carson

Characteristics of Adult Children of Alcoholics

1. Fear of losing control.  ACAs maintain control of their feelings, their behavior, and try to control the feelings and behavior of others.  They do not do this to hurt either themselves or others, but because they are afraid.  They fear that their lives will get worse if they relinquish control, and they get very anxious when they cannot control a situation.
2. Fear of feelings.  ACAs have buried their feelings (especially anger and sadness) since childhood and cannot feel or express emotions easily.  Eventually they fear all intense feelings, even a good feeling such as joy.
3. Fear of conflict.  ACAs are frightened by people in authority, angry people, and personal criticism, so that they often mistake common assertiveness on the part of others for anger.  As a result of this fear ACAs are constantly seeking approval, and they lose their identities in the process.  They often find themselves in a self-imposed state of isolation.
4. An over developed sense of responsibility.  ACAs are hypersensitive to the needs of others.  Their self-esteem comes from others' opinions of them, and thus they have a compulsive need to be perfect.
5. Feelings of guilt when they stand up for themselves instead of demurring to others.  ACAs sacrifice their own needs in an effort to be ``responsible'', and therefore avoid guilt.
6. An inability to relax, let go, and have fun.  Trying to have fun is stressful for ACAs, especially when others are watching.  The child inside is terrified, and in an effort to appear perfect, exercises such strict control that spontaneity suffers.
7. Harsh, even fierce, self-criticism.  ACAs are burdened with a very low sense of self-respect, no matter how competent they may be.
8. Denial.  Whenever ACAs feel threatened, they tend to deny that which provoked their fears.
9. Difficulties with intimate relationships.  Intimacy gives ACAs the feeling of losing control, and requires self-love and the ability to express one's needs.  As a result, ACAs frequently have difficulty with their sexuality, and they repeat relationship patterns.
10. They see themselves as victims.  ACAs may be either aggressive or passive victims, and they are often attracted to others like them in their friendship, love, and career relationships.
11. Compulsive behavior.  ACAs may work or eat compulsively, become addicted to a relationship, or behave compulsively in other ways.  Tragically, ACAs may drink compulsively, and become alcoholics themselves.
12. A tendency to be more comfortable with chaos than with peace.  ACAs become addicted to excitement and drama, which can give them their fix of adrenaline and the feeling of power which accompanies it.
13. The tendency to confuse love with pity.  As a result, ACAs often love people they can rescue.
14. Fear of abandonment.  ACAs will do anything to preserve a relationship, rather than face the pain of abandonment.
15. The tendency, when under pressure, to see everything and everyone in extremes.
16. Physical illness.  ACAs are very susceptible to stress-related illnesses.
17. Suffering from a backlog of grief.  Losses experienced during childhood were often never grieved for, since the alcoholic family does not tolerate such intensely uncomfortable feelings.  Current losses cannot be felt without calling up these past feelings.  As a result, ACAs are frequently depressed.
18. A tendency to react rather than to act.  ACAs remain hypervigilant, constantly scanning the environment for potential catastrophies.
19. An ability to survive.  If you are listening to this list, you are a survivor.
    
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