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How do adult children of alcoholics learn what's socially expected?

Asked by laureth (27199points) March 3rd, 2009

Children of alcoholics live in a totally different world sometimes. Things that go on in other families aren’t the same. As an adult, I’ve found that I sometimes don’t understand social cues or “normal” things expected of me because they weren’t the norm when I was growing up like they were for families where addiction wasn’t a factor. (It’s also hard to learn from friends’ families when other kids shunned you because of your family, and TV is no guide for real life situations.)

Any “adult children” out there? How do you learn to adapt to what the rest of the world sees as the norm? Are there resources out there that have been especially helpful to you, or do you have insights to share of your own? (I’ve found this book, but I’m looking for more personal stuff from the Collective, if they want to share.) Or, how does this kind of upbringing affect you today? (With me, for example, mistakes were not an option when I was a kid, so I tend to overly punish myself for them even now.) Thanks for reading.

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