ACA defines an Adult Child as "someone whose actions and decisions as an adult are guided by childhood experiences grounded in self-doubt or fear" (p 302 of our ACA Fellowship text)

Here are some of the questions we use to help identify ourselves as an Adult Child:

* Do I fear authority figures and angry people?

* Do I see most forms of criticism as a personal attack?

* Do I have difficulty identifying feelings?

* Do I involve myself in the problems of others? Do I feel more alive when there is a crisis?

* Do I judge myself without mercy and guess at what is normal?

* Do I recall anyone at my home drinking or taking drugs or being involved in some other behavior that I now believe could be dysfunctional?

* Did one of my parents make excuses for the other parent's drinking or other behaviors?

* As an adult, do I feel immature? Do I feel like I am a child inside?

Answering yes to any of these questions may mean you are suffering from the effects of growing up in a dysfunctional household, whether it was due to alcoholism or another addiction, workaholism, perfectionism, or some other factor or form of abuse.

The questions above were taken from our trifold "25 Questions: Am I an Adult Child" that is available for free download at ACA's World Service Organization's website: