Adult Children of Alcoholics

admin — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 07:34:28 +0000

Janet Geringer Woititz

ISBN 1-55874-112-7

Janet Woititz wrote her dissertation for her doctorate in the middle 1970s about “Self-Esteem in Children of Alcoholics”. She started the first 12-step program for those of any age who had grown up in a dysfunctional home. This group was called ACOA-Adult children of Alcoholics. The book about ACOA, Adult Children of Alcoholics, was first published in 1983 and sold only by mail order. Book stores only carried after the public demand was high. By 1987 the book was on the New York Times bestsellers list.

The basic principles about ACOA people are the following:

1) Adult children of alcoholics guess at what normal behavior is.

2) Adult children of alcoholics have difficulty following a project through from beginning to end.

3) Adult children of alcoholics lie when it would be just as easy to tell the truth.

4) Adult children of alcoholics judge themselves without mercy.

5) Adult children of alcoholics have difficulty having fun.

6) Adult children of alcoholics take themselves very seriously.

7) Adult children of alcoholics have difficulty with intimate relationships.

Adult children of alcoholics over-react to changes over which they have no control.

9) Adult children of alcoholics constantly seek approval and affirmation.

10) Adult children of alcoholics usually feel that they are different

from other people.

11) Adult children of alcoholics are super responsible or super

irresponsible.

12) Adult children of alcoholics are extremely loyal, even in the face

of evidence that the loyalty is undeserved.

13) Adult children of alcoholics are impulsive. They tend to lock

themselves into a course of action without giving serious

consideration to alternative behaviors or possible

consequences. This impulsivity leads to confusion,

self-loathing and loss of control over their environment.

In addition, they spend an excessive amount of energy

cleaning up the mess.

Personal Development Books

admin — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 14:16:17 +0000

These books are incorporated in our Changemaker Library. All of the books used are the choices of Changemaker without solicitation from any author or publisher. We include the title of the book, the author, the ISBN number, and an Amazon link if you choose to order the books yourself.

The following books are about personal development:

The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich

Timothy Ferriss

ISBN 978-0-307-35313-9

Amazon link

Adult Children of Alcoholics

Janet Geringer Woititz

ISBN 1-55874-112-7

Amazon link

Coach Yourself to Success: 101 Tips From a Personal Coach for Reaching Your Goals at Work and in Life

Talane Miedaner

ISBN 0-8092-2537-9