Adult Children of Alcoholics and Dysfunctional Families

Adult Children of Alcoholics and Dysfunctional Families

Me?

I’m not angry about anything.

The word anger doesn’t begin to describe themselves and absolute fury that festers in the hearts of adult children.

There probably is no word to capture the depth of what we feel. But that inner rage is a potent force in our lives, to say the least because it is so deeply ingrained as to be invisible. Most of us wouldn’t guess it was there if it weren’t for the consequences.

Persistent, buried anger often causes dysfunctional behavior. One example is the hair-trigger, hothead reaction to almost anything – a flat tire, a crossword, a child’s mistake. Petty slights are an outrage; minor inconveniences are intolerable. Extreme emotionlessness is another expression of repressed rage. Here we get the deadly silent treatment, the unwillingness or inability to respond. Then there are those of us who are simply scared to death of anger in any form and for any reason. Ours is the peace-at-any-price don’t-rock-the-boat reaction.

The question isn’t whether or not we’re angry. The question is whether or not we’re dealing with it.

Today, I will express the anger I feel to my Higher Power and another human being.