Adult Children of Alcoholics Community Group

A Support Group for Adult Children of Alcoholics

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Anyone else have lifelong physical symptoms?

mgibson4
mgibson4
Hi all, new here and I'm just learning that my stomach problems which started when I was about 13 and then got much worse a year or two after my alcholic father passed away were very likely anxiety/depression or fear of emotions trying to surface. You know the suppressed anger, resentment, sadness, humiliation...the list does go on for us, doesn't it? Thankfully, I am in therapy and trying to work through all this crap, as a result of my sister's recent passing, major marital problems and work related problems (yep, authority figures and my inability to speak up). The laundry list?? I think I have all of them. BTW....it's hard and I struggle alot since we buried my alcholic father almost 20 yrs ago. Wow, I've been holding onto this crap for wayyyyy tooooo long and I can't begin to tell you just how much it affected my other relationships and how it all kept coming up, again, again and yet again. Glad that I found you guys here.
deleted_user
deleted_user
mgibson, we tend to stuff feelings, took me a long time until i got assertive, and started feeling my feelings.. the best of luck.. dinz
lucylui
lucylui
I have struggled with dieting my whole life. When I joined Overeaters Anonymous, someone suggested I check out ACOA, which I had never heard of. I realize now that I've been stuffing my feelings with food for most of my life.
I've left so many jobs mgibson because of fear of authority figures and my inability to speak up for myself. I believe we can change if we truly want to to, but... it ain't gonna be easy, haha! Welcome
rosiekins
rosiekins
Hi mgibson. WOW are you talking about me too? I have lifelong digestive and immune system problems which I deal with every day. I had not really thought how related it is to stuffing feelings and the high anxiety I had as a kid. I kept the "back door open" so if the chaos began I could try and escape. In fact I think I still carry this automatic fight or flight response to lots of things, even things that should not be a danger to me. ALways on high alert even when I consciously try to relax. Maybe that is why I am a doer and have trouble just being. I battle my digestion/food allergies and chemical sensitivities and immune system attacks every day!
I have done counseling but not from this ACOA perspective.
Welcome.
Community Leaderbobinmaine
bobinmaine
I am sure I inherited my dad's alcohol gene. I had two older sisters who seem to be normal so I was the lucky one!

I have high blood pressure which I believe is from keeping things inside for so many years. I also had many addictions throughout my life. I was a sex addict as a teenager, much later in life became a drug addict and then an alcoholic. Now I am struggling with over eating.

I go to AA meetings as often as I can and they help. The 12 steps help me alot.
deleted_user
deleted_user
It wasn't until I entered therapy af 20 (I sought help after my boyfriend died of cancer), that I even acknowledged the major role being an ACOA played in my life.I went in for one issue, and ended up staying in it for years uncovering all these connections I had never made before and realizing that my head and body are CONNECTED! It opens a lot of doors to finally let some of that stuff out, and realize that your body comes up with ways to get things out if you try to stuff it all down. Stick with it, it can be painful but it's worth it!
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