If you grew up in an alcoholic or other dysfunctional family, these books offer insight into the characteristics that adult children typically develop, and practical advice for learning how to make healthy decisions to lead a more healthy life, functionally and emotionally.
1. Adult Children of Alcoholics
Price Grabber
This best-selling book by Janet G. Woititz was the first to address the specific problems experienced by those who grew up in alcoholic homes. The latest, expanded version includes experiences from various dysfunctional family backgrounds who share the same characteristics.
2. Adult Children: The Secrets of Dysfunctional Families
Price Grabber
Alcoholic families are not the only ones that produce adult children with dysfunctional characteristics. John and Linda Friel explore the effect that perfectionism, workaholism, compulsive overeating, intimacy problems, depression, and problems in expressing feelings can have in creating a dysfunctional family system.
3. An Adult Child's Guide to What's 'Normal'
Price Grabber
One of the characteristics of adult children is that they have to guess at what "normal" is, because they have no model to follow. John and Linda Friel wrote this practical guide for adult children of dysfunctional homes to help them learn how to live a more healthy life.
4. Lifeskills for Adult Children
Price Grabber
Janet Woititz gives practical tips to help adult children learn basic life skills, such as standing up for themselves, making decisions, solving problems and learning how to say "no." The book contains examples and exercises to help readers practice their newly learned skills.
5. Recovery: A Guide for Adult Children of Alcoholics
Price Grabber
Herbert Gravitz and Julie D. Bowden explain the journey of recovery for adult children from ignorance to awareness to integration and self-acceptance. The authors offer a guide to determining which issues and treatment options are most relevant for adult children of alcoholics and dsyfunctional families.
6. Struggle for Intimacy
Price Grabber
The problem with finding intimacy for adult children is that the steps required are in direct conflict with the survival skills they learned while growing up in a dysfunctional home. Janet G. Woititz, pioneer in the field, explains the life-long process and struggle for intimacy for adult children.
7. Self-Sabotage Syndrome: Adult Children in the Workplace
Price Grabber
Another characteristic of adult children is a propensity to sabotage things just when they start going well. This is particularly unhealthy in the workplace. This book offers advice on how to find balance and develop healthy relationships and attitudes at work.
