ComLine Archives - Page 26 of 72 - Adult Children of Alcoholics & Dysfunctional Families

Inner Critic

by Christine O. | Aug 1, 2023 | ComLine, Voices of Recovery

I hear her voice in my head: “God forbid a stranger should find fault with you.” Such an event would of course embarrass the whole family. I wonder how many generations have heard this — I had heard two — then repeated it when they became parents. “God forbid that a...

Together Alone

by Sue L. | Aug 1, 2023 | ACA And The Arts, ComLine

Mom’s on the couch, Dad’s in the den with his gin Two different worlds with a 10-foot wall in betweenHe yells out “that TV show is crap”But I love Lucy because she makes Mom laughTogether alone we live in this homeLeft to our own devicesHiding the pain inside...

Sous le maquillage

by Geneviève R. | Jul 15, 2023 | ComLine, Voices of Recovery

Je croyais naïvement au dicton populaire « Donner, c’est donner. Reprendre, c’est voler ». Mais j’ai découvert récemment qu’une somme rondelette, reçue en « cadeau » il y a 15 ans, était en réalité munie d’un « élastique de rappel ». Sous le maquillage, la belle...

Step Ten

by Kathleen S. | Jul 15, 2023 | ComLine, Voices of Recovery

Stay safe enough is a recovery goal. Before I experienced adverse conditions, I was an innocent child. Am I going to be restored to that state and condition again? Is it safe? “I don’t have an answer to that question, ‘are we going to become entirely free of the...

Drawing My Inner Family

by Tom M. | Jul 15, 2023 | ACA And The Arts, ComLine

Terrified inner baby:Born into domestic violence.Blindsided and shattered.He screams at full volume.No one hears his heart. Hypervigilant inner toddler:Hiding in a corner.Avoiding daddy-Monster.Trying to be invisible.Making himself silent.Making himself...

ACA Recovery

by Jess P. | Jul 15, 2023 | ACA Beyond Borders, ComLine

Hi, I am Jess, an ACA member.I have struggled with family addiction and dysfunction growing up as the youngest of three children. It has been an ongoing battle for me but certainly has taken all of my lifetime to find another path. It has been hard at times. I have...