better than what?

[escape artist]

if an alcoholic is an adult child of alcoholics, would al-anon possibly help him resolve his issues from childhood which may be the reason he drinks?

i asked him if he hates himself. he laughed and said no.
i asked him if he loves himself, he said he never thought much about it.
i asked him why he likes to escape so much and he said
to feel better.

I then asked him better than what?
he had no answer.

[splendra]

ACOA could help an alcoholic who is the child of an alcoholic with their issues but, it would be best if they get clean first so that they can be fully present to work out the issues....

[DesertEyes]

Hi there escape artist :-)

Originally Posted by escape artist

... if an alcoholic is an adult child of alcoholics, would al-anon possibly help him resolve his issues from childhood which may be the reason he drinks?

I am an alkie, and also an ACoA. I have my share of childhood issues. Those are _not_ the reason I drank. My childhood issues were just an excuse with which I justified my drinking. I drank because I have some kind of "allergy" in my body which makes me physically dependent on any kind of chemical that reduces emotional stress. I drank because it dulled my brain and allowed me to avoid responsibility for the consequences of my own actions.

Until I quit drinking, and was sober a long enough time for my brain to function normally again, it was pointless to even try to look at my childhood issues. Once sober I was able to see a shrink, attend meetings of ACA and generally get my feces amalgamated.

Whadya think?

Mike :-)
p.s. That's a cute nick :-)

[escape artist]

thanks. i like the feces amalgamated phrase.

[nocellphone]

Originally Posted by escape artist

if an alcoholic is an adult child of alcoholics, would al-anon possibly help him resolve his issues from childhood

I've met quite a few alcoholics in Al-Anon meetings (they call themselves "double-winners" where I am) and they generally say the same thing: "AA has taught me how to stay sober; Al-Anon has taught me how to live life on life's terms".

Originally Posted by escape artist

which may be the reason he drinks?

That information is best left to the alcoholic to work out in AA, where he or she will prob'ly find out that alcoholics drink because they are alcoholic. Simple as that.

[nocellphone]

Originally Posted by DesertEyes

feces amalgamated

I should start a business...