Q&A

What is an Adult Child?

The term "adult child" is used to describe adults who grew up in alcoholic or dysfunctional homes and who exhibit identifiable traits that reveal past abuse or neglect. The group includes adults raised in homes without the presence of alcohol or drugs. These ACA members have the trademark presence of abuse, shame, and abandonment found in alcoholic homes. (BRB, xii)

What is the Laundry List?

The Laundry List is a list of identifiable traits penned by Tony A. These common behaviors include: fear of abandonment, fear of authority figures,, judging ourselves harshly, confusing love for pity, and becoming an alcoholic or marrying one. Self identification with the Laundry List is the gole that holds together our fellowship and its membership. (BRB, xiv)

How is ACA Different from Other 12-Step Programs?

While ACAis similar to other Twelve Step programs, our emphasis on the family system and the Inner Child or True Self sets ACA apart from all other fellowships. In addition to focusing on ourselves through the Twelve Steps, we believe that the family system is open for inspection as well. (BRB, xv)

What is a Blameless Inventory?

As part of our recovery process, many ACA members take a "blameless inventory" of their parents to understand and stop the generational nature of family dysfunction. The parents are not blamed. However, the adult child examines how he or she was raised in connection with levels of nurturing, discipline, and feeling safe. In homes where obvious abuse and violence existed, the adult child names the behavior as one of the first steps in removing power from such parental acts... In ACA, we learn to keep the focus on ourselves and live and let live. (BRB, xvi)