Adult Children of Alcoholics and Victim Behavior Thanks go out to Cheryl Major for permission to use this info
The following is a list of common characteristics of Adult Children. These characteristics were developed by Dr Janet G. Woititz. You may not feel that each one applies to you, but I found that most of them fit my personality or lifestyle in some way, especially the first one.
Adult Children (to themselves) seem like they're *More Crazy*... the drunk can blame it on the bottle, an ACOA is doing alchoholic stuff (addictive behavior/ self destructive behavior) and they don't even drink?
it's confusing...
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Adult Children ...guess at what normal is
...have difficulty following a project through from beginning to end
...lie when it would be just as easy to tell the truth
...have difficulty having fun
...have difficulty with intimate relationships
...overreact to changes over which they have no control
...constantly seek approval and affirmation
...feel that they are different from other people
...are either super responsible or super irresponsible
...judge themselves without mercy
...take themselves very seriously
...tend to lock themselves into a course of action without giving serious thought to alternative behaviors or possible consequences. This impulsivity leads to confusion, self loathing, and loss of control of their environment. As a result, they spend tremendous amounts of time cleaning up the mess.
Of course this is not the final and inclusive list of characteristics, but it gives you a good idea where some of your so called 'personality flaws' or problems in relationships may be coming from.
Dr Janet G. WoititzSome estimates say that 90% of the people who practice victim behavior will NEVER accept that the 'circumstances they find themselves in' have anything to do with their life's choices ...this site is dedicated to the remaining 10% who have the COURAGE to change paradigms.
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