"They were always drinking, as far back as I can remember, in a way that I can now recognize as problematic, but at the time it was just the way things were."
It can take a lifetime and then some to untangle the effects of having alcoholic parents. We help each other recover by telling our stories and listening to the stories of others. I’m grateful for your openness and your honesty.
"About the damage. The crux of it is, I have a very thin sense of self. I do not have any instinct I can trust. And how I grew up might be why, but I’m not actually sure. Part of me has felt like this as long as I’ve been alive, which could be a point for either side." This is where I started copying into my notebook, and continued for the next few grafs. Thanks for helping me make sense of who and how I am.
Anna Held’s essay was outstanding. I hope you’ll let her know.
While I don’t come from a family of alcoholics I do come from a family of undiagnosed and denied mental illness. “I made my pain disappear for you. And you didn’t care at all.” Hit me like a ton of bricks.
"I rage at the truth that love is not enough, and at everyone who says it is." As the adult child of an alcoholic, wow, did that ever ring true.
It can take a lifetime and then some to untangle the effects of having alcoholic parents. We help each other recover by telling our stories and listening to the stories of others. I’m grateful for your openness and your honesty.
I'm 54, and this is the best thing I've ever read about being an ACOA. Thank you.
"About the damage. The crux of it is, I have a very thin sense of self. I do not have any instinct I can trust. And how I grew up might be why, but I’m not actually sure. Part of me has felt like this as long as I’ve been alive, which could be a point for either side." This is where I started copying into my notebook, and continued for the next few grafs. Thanks for helping me make sense of who and how I am.
Anna Held’s essay was outstanding. I hope you’ll let her know.
While I don’t come from a family of alcoholics I do come from a family of undiagnosed and denied mental illness. “I made my pain disappear for you. And you didn’t care at all.” Hit me like a ton of bricks.
This essay means so fucking much to me. thank you 🩵