Minute To Freedom

Recovering from the effects of growing up with a violent alcoholic involves a lot of hard work.

Have you ever felt like you should be apologizing for even being born? I took on a sense of shame, of being a mistake, from an early age.

For many adult children of alcoholics, the traumatic events of their youth interrupt their growth process – leaving them dealing with life as small children.

Today let’s talk about delayed reactions. Has someone ever said something, and you figure out the absolute wonderful response – 3 days later?

Today let’s talk about being a lost child. Usually there’s one child in an alcoholic family who gets lost in the shuffle.

Today let’s talk about blocked creativity. The origin of my writer’s block was a bizarre comment by my grandmother when I was eight.

Today let’s talk about putting people in categories. I would label people and then have unreasonable expectations on the basis of the label, not the person.

Today let’s talk about not being a scapegoat. Have you ever found yourself taking on the blame for events in your world?

Today let’s talk about instant intimacy. Sometimes people try to become involved too quickly – like telling someone your life’s story on the first date.

I have begun to realize how lucky I have been to find resources to help with my problems, and feel a lot of gratitude for that help.