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Summary: This book opened my eyes and changed my view of the world!
Review: I first read this book in 1986 as I was struggling to accept the fact that my father was an alcoholic. It helped me start to understand myself and begin a continuing journey of painful change. If I can leave no greater legacy to my children and their decendants it will be one of healthy understanding and acceptance of this insidious disease. I am still reading it and utilizing the applications it provides.
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Summary: ACOA Syndrome Made My Life Worth Living
Review: If ANYONE in your family line has EVER been the child of an alcoholic...THIS IS A MUST READ FOR YOU! You'll learn how the child of an alcoholic carries the traits of the syndrome, ie lack of intimacy, lack of feelings, family myths etc. The biggest SHOCK was learning that THE CHILDREN WHO CHOOSE NOT TO DRINK.....CARRY THE SYNDROME AS WELL OR BETTER THAN THEIR SIBLINGS WHO MAY BECOME ALCOHOLICS THEMSELVES! LASTLY - REMEMBER THAT ALCOHOLISM IS NOT SOMETHING PEOPLE CHOOSE TO BE OR CHOOSE NOT TO BE..IT'S NOT WHO HAS THE WILLPOWER AND WHO DOESN'T...IF YOU HAVE ANY ALCOHOL ABUSE IN YOUR GENEOLOGY...READ THIS BOOK!
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Summary: Not of much use
Review: Read it and tried its different suggestions for recovery. It didn't do anything. Nice introduction and nice theories but there are better books about recovery today. Its age is against it I guess.
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Summary: Seriously overgeneralizes
Review: This book has brought light and understanding to the way I have felt most of my life. I thought I was going crazy. It is to the point and clearly shows the intergenerational impact of alcoholism on the family and you, Even if the active alcoholism was not in your immediate family (grandparents or great grandparents etc. were / are alcoholics) It removes any doubt and denial as to how damaging and far reaching the effects of alcoholism are. It also includes practical work for overcoming the feelings of anxiety, shame, and isolation. Adult children of alcoholics syndrome has been a Godsend for me. Facing the truth, pain and dysfunction caused by alcoholism in our family has restored my hope for an emotionally balanced and healthy future for my family and myself.
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Summary: Key to a mystery
Review: This book solved a painful problem for me. It helped me first to see beyond my abstinent parents to my grandparents' alcohol problems. Next it suggested that my father could leave the alcohol, but bring an intense behavior pattern from that context.Finally, the classic "silence, denial, isolation, rigidity" matched exactly the symptoms that developed around the apparently unrelated situation of a paralyzing medical injury to my mother. To see this coming from my father unlocked my own personal history. I read Kritsberg after both my parents were dead, but it has allowed me to begin dissolving my inherited patterns, revisiting my parents' lives with greater compassion, and feeling hope.
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Summary: Seriously overgeneralizes
Review: To Kritsberg, every alcoholic family is the same. Mine was/is completely different, and I mean completely: instead of a rule of silence, there was unceasing discussion of the problem, etc. By which I don't mean no one should read the book: if the rules of silence, rigidity, isolation and denial seem to fit the patterns your family had, then this book will have something to say to you, but if not, it will be a complete waste of time, since it sees nothing outside of those boundaries.
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