This post contains affiliate links. After my earlier blog post about growing up in an alcoholic family, I got a lot of requests for additional reading suggestions. We are fortunate that there are many helpful books for Adult Children of Alcoholics (ACOAs) on healing codependency, trauma, and relationship challenges. Below are some of my reading suggestions for adults who […]
Tag Archives: addiction
The Effects of Growing Up in a Dysfunctional Family
If you grew up in a family with a chemically dependent, mentally ill, or abusive parent, you know how hard it is — and you know that everyone in the family is affected. Over time, the family begins to revolve around maintaining the status quo – the dysfunction. Rigid family rules and roles develop in dysfunctional families that […]
How to Support Your Spouse in Addiction Recovery
This post contains affiliate links. Realizing your partner has a problem with alcohol, drugs, sex, pornography, gambling, or any other addiction is a very painful reality. The best case scenario is that your partner also recognizes his/her addiction and seeks help in order to recover. Unfortunately, recovery doesn’t go in a straight line. Most addicts struggle with denial, relapse, and changing […]
Adult Children of Alcoholics: How Addiction Affects the Entire Family
Alcoholism and addiction affect the entire family, not just the addict. The effects are especially profound if you grew up with an addicted parent. Many adult children of alcoholics (ACOA) or addicts are amazed at how accurately the six family roles outlined in this article describe the family they grew up in. Why is addiction considered a family […]
Heal Codependency: Lessons From a New Self-Help Book by Sharon Martin
Are you drawn to people with serious problems, who tend to “under function”? Do you feel lonely in your relationships? Do you feel like no one listens to you or no one cares about you? Are you tired of having the same arguments over and over again? Do you feel invisible or insignificant? Do people take advantage of your […]
Are You an Enabler? Understanding Codependency vs. Helping
Codependency isn’t just amplified helping. One of the big misconceptions about codependency is that it’s simply being super, duper nice. It’s true that most codependents are kind and generous to a fault. You typically struggle to say “no” and set limits. As a result, people take advantage of your desire to help. But codependency is much more than this. Codependency is a […]
4 Smart Strategies for Coping with an Addicted Partner
The holidays can be a scary time when your partner’s an addict or alcoholic. Instead of visions of sugar plums, you may be having nightmares of: parties with alcohol DUI’s broken promises being embarrassed by your partner ruined holidays of the past receiving gifts of alcohol relapse strained family relationships stress over finances, long to-do lists The most important thing […]
Am I an Alcoholic?
Am I an Alcoholic? The internet is full of quizzes, questionnaires, and self-assessments looking to answer the question “am I an alcoholic”? The answer, it seems, depends on who you ask. Let’s begin by trying to define the term alcoholic.