Are You An Adult Child?
You don’t have to be an ACoA (Adult Child of Alcoholics) to be an adult child.
An adult child is anyone who had a childhood that was inconsistent or unpredictable in some way or for some time*. This could be due to alcohol or drugs (or any kind of addictions) but could also be because of lots of other things. Death or chronic illness of a parent, a special needs sibling, financial pressures…anything that created uncertainty and dysfunction. (Which means that pretty much all of us are adult children).
So if we are all adult children why do we feel so different and ‘other’? One of the defining characteristics of being an adult child is ‘guessing what normal is’. Our fear is that everyone else has the answers to life and we don’t even know what the questions are! We think that everybody else knows how to think, feel and behave and we are the only ones feeling awkward, anxious and unsure of ourselves.
What we don’t realize is that many (if not most) of the people we wish we were like, wish they were like us.
The bad news is that we are easily exhausted and overwhelmed as we spend most of our energy meeting the needs (be they real or imagined) of the people around us. We don’t know how to look after ourselves very well. We find it hard to stand up for ourselves. We take life very seriously. We struggle with relationships. We suffer from anxiety. We are very others-centred.
The good news is that adult children are resilient, intuitive, practical and trustworthy. We are excellent in a crisis and make great friends and co-workers. We are self-sufficient and self-regulating. We have many, many untapped talents and strengths.
The even better news is that I can help you tap into your talents and strengths. I can help you to have a more satisfying, meaningful and rewarding life. I can help you to remember who you really are and to be how you wish to be in the world.
From relationships to work and everywhere in between, I have helped hundreds of clients to develop skills and tools that help them to manage conflict, identify and express their own needs and wants, and set and achieve important life goals.
The best news is that my tools and techniques work. Really well. I know because I have used them on myself and transformed my own life, relationships and work with them…
*This is my definition, arrived at after working with hundreds of clients who are adult children.
If you are or think you may be an adult child and would like to work on deepening your understanding of yourself and your responses to the world around you, set up a FREE Discovery Session so we can talk about how I can help you to reach your full potential.
Tags: adult child | adult child coach | adult children | coaching | life coach
- “I have seen various psychologists and therapists but none of them have the skill of Judy in being able to relate to me and the way I think about things.”
- “Judy, you have given me the tools to change and move my life in directions I never knew possible. I am truly grateful for your help.”
- “Perception is everything and working with Judy has helped me realise my true potential by changing my outlook of life into more positive ones. I enjoy walking out of a life coaching session feeling like I am in control again, less stressed and more energetic.”
- “Judy is my go-to person when I find myself uncertain about how to interpret the signposts in my life. Her insights and ability to draw out what lies deepest inside have helped provide clarity and integrity at pivotal life moments over many years.”
- “I’d recommend Judy to anyone who’s feeling stuck, weary, confused, discouraged, uncertain, in need of support – basically, I’d recommend her to any carbon-based life form that breathes oxygen and would like to have a wonderful life.”
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