My inner family’s playground
In The Loving Parent Guidebook, page 15, a proposed exercise is to draw a picture of my inner family. Wow! It has been 9 years since I discovered the existence of Inner Child(ren) in 12-Step literature, and I had already tried twice to represent them, but for the time...
The Only One We Can Change is Ourselves.
I recently attended a full day meeting on Boundaries that was sponsored by several groups in Pennsylvania. I had the joy of presenting to the group some of the work and concepts in a draft book on boundaries that a writer group has submitted to the Literature...
Boundaries Workshop at AWC Convention 2026
Boundaries Workshop at AWC Convention 2026 Correction: The original version of this article listed the incorrect workshop time. The correct time is 5:30am-7am ET. We apologize for the confusion. Here’s a sneak peek at the workshop on the new “Freedom through...
The Foundation Beneath Our Meetings
A Fellowship Sustained by Participation ACA exists today because others chose to carry it forward. Long before current members arrived, people and groups gave their time, energy, and resources so that meetings could be available, literature could be printed, and...
What Is WSO – and Why Does It Matter?
Many of us experience ACA through our meetings, our literature, and the relationships we build in recovery. Somewhere in the background, we may hear references to “WSO.” For some of us, that simply means the place where books are printed or ordered. For others, it’s...
Dealing with Difficult Members
Many of us have had the experience in meetings where we find a fellow member who triggers us with what they say or how they behave. The question arises as to what action if any can be taken to eliminate those triggering shares. For example, a friend called me and said...
طاقة نور
كنت عضوة جديدة في زمالة ACA عندما تمَّ الإعلان عن ورشة «طاقة نور». في ذلك الوقت، كنت قد بدأت في دراسة الكتاب الأحمر الكبير وتوصَّلت إلى استنتاج أنني لا أستطيع القيام بهذا وحدي. لم يكن موعد الورشة مناسبًا لي، ولكنهم كانوا سيدرسون كراسة «أمل جديد» كمجموعة. وكنت أعلم أن...
Feeling Stuck? Your Childhood Might Hold the Answer
How to know if ACA is right for you? What Is ACA? If you've found your way to Adult Children of Alcoholics and Dysfunctional Families (ACA), you might already be wondering if this is the place for you. Many of us arrived with similar questions, unsure whether ACA...
It’s Never Too Late: Starting the ACASteps in Midlife
Facing the Door (and My Doubts) I was 56 years old when I walked into my first ACA meeting. I still remember sitting in my car outside the church basement, feeling both embarrassed and oddly relieved. I’d spent years telling myself that I didn’t need this kind of...
14 Signs Your Childhood Might Be Affecting Your Life Today
At some point, many people start to notice patterns in their lives that don’t quite make sense. You might react strongly to conflict, feel responsible for other people’s emotions, or struggle to fully relax – even when things are going well. You may have worked hard...