Mental illness symptoms, such as the Adult Children of Alcoholics, can affect emotions, thoughts, and behaviors. Mental illnesses are nothing to be ashamed of, just like heart disease or diabetes. Mental illnesses are treatable.
Mental health is the foundation for emotions, thinking, communication, learning, resilience, hope, and self-esteem.
What is an Adult Child? As defined within the context of mental health, an Adult Child of an Alcoholic is someone who grew up in a dysfunctional alcoholic family environment that prevented them from ultimately maturing emotionally.
Adult Child Syndrome is characterized by an inability to navigate adult decisions and relationships due to the long-term impact of childhood trauma. Hence, the title of this monthly newsletter is Adult Child Vital Voyage.
Symptoms of Adult Child Syndrome
According to research, the symptoms of Adult Child Syndrome can be far-reaching and complex, and may include:
Anxiety or depression: Anxiety and depression are the most common mental health issues that can result from the stress and trauma of the Adult Child Syndrome.
Hypervigilance: One’s high anxiety with the Adult Child Syndrome can lead to extreme vigilance or alertness that can result from past trauma, leading to feelings of fear, sometimes even paranoia.
Fear of abandonment: An intense fear of being left alone or unloved can lead to clinginess or neediness in relationships.
Need for control: A desire to control one’s environment or other people, which can stem from feelings of anxiety.
Have difficulty trusting others: A tendency to doubt other people’s intentions and motives, often due to past experiences of betrayal or hurt.
Low self-esteem: A belief that one is unworthy or unimportant can lead to feelings of inadequacy and self-doubt.
Perfectionism: A need to be perfect or flawless to feel accepted and valued by others.
Difficulty expressing emotions: Tends to repress or hide one’s true feelings.
People-pleasing: A habit of putting other’s needs before one’s own, often at the expense of one’s well-being.
Isolation: A tendency to withdraw from social situations and avoid close relationships.
Avoidance of conflict: A fear of confrontation or disagreement can lead to passive-aggressive behavior or avoidance tactics.
Obsessive thinking: A tendency to ruminate on negative thoughts or worries, often leading to anxiety or stress.
Fear of intimacy: A fear of emotional closeness with others, often stemming from a lack of trust or past trauma.
Chronic feelings of guilt or shame: This is an ongoing sense of self-blame or unworthiness, which can lead to anxiety and depression.
Difficulty setting boundaries: This tendency is to allow others to cross personal boundaries, often due to a fear of confrontation or rejection.
Self-sabotage: A tendency to undermine one’s success or well-being, often due to deep-seated feelings, inadequacy, or self-doubt.
Codependency: A pattern of behavior in which a person becomes overly dependent on another person, often to the point of enabling unhealthy behaviors.
Compulsive behavior: The need to engage in repetitive or ritualistic behaviors, often as a way to relieve anxiety or stress.
Substance abuse: The use of drugs or alcohol as a coping mechanism for emotional emotional pain or stress. Children with alcoholic parents are four times as likely to engage in excessive drinking at some point in their lives.
These symptoms can lead to a wide range of problems in adult life, such as addiction, anxiety, depression, and difficulty in forming healthy relationships.
Take the Adult Child Test
According to Adult Children of Alcoholics & Dysfunctional Families, the following questions will help identify ourselves as an Adult Child:
Do I fear authority figures and angry people?
Do I see most forms of criticism as a personal attack? Do I have difficulty identifying feelings?
Do I involve myself in the problems of others? Do I feel alive when there is a crisis? Do I judge myself without mercy and guess at what is normal?
Did one of my parents make excuses for the other parents drinking?
As an adult, do I feel immature? Do I feel like a child inside?
Answering “yes”to any of these questions may
mean you suffer from the effects of growing up in a
dysfunctional household. The more you answer “yes” to these questions, you are an Adult Child like me.
Support is available if these characteristics ring true for you or anyone you care about. If you recognize any of these symptoms in yourself or someone you know and deeply care about, seeking professional help would be beneficial.
Your Call to Action
The first step is to acknowledge that you or a family member, significant other, and great friend is an Adult Child of an Alcoholic.
Create a Vision Board to help you achieve your dreams and life goals. It aims to inspire and motivate you because you can view it at the beginning of each day. Your Vision Board can be created either digitally or on a poster board. Begin your Vision Board by writing down your life’s vision and dream. Then, make a list of goals you would like to achieve in the next year. Next, create action steps to accomplish each one of your goals. Finally, display your Vision Board in a place you often see it to inspire you continually.
Reduce your stress and anxiety or help someone within your inner family. Self-care techniques such as deep breathing exercises, meditation, yoga, walking, or running can help reduce stress levels and promote relaxation.
Take steps to boost your self-esteem. Engaging in activities that make you feel good about yourself can help boost your self-confidence. These may include hobbies and spending time with supportive family members and friends.
Improving your physical health through regular exercise, healthy eating habits, and proper sleep hygiene can positively impact managing Adult Child Syndrome symptoms.
Setting boundaries is an essential part of self-care for individuals with Adult Child Syndrome.
Attend an Al-Anon meeting and other Adult Child group meetings in your geographic area.
Read books about healing from being an Adult Child of an Alcoholic.
Listen to inspiring podcasts related to being an Adult Child of an Alcoholic.
Seek professional help. A mental health professional can help you address any underlying emotional issues, guide you in managing your emotions, and learn coping skills, behavior modification techniques, or medication arrangements, if necessary.
Never stop your Adult Child's healing journey.
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