Feeling out of control is scary for most people, but even more so for adult children. The term adult children (or adult child) refers to individuals that grew up in dysfunctional families. This includes having parents, caregivers, or close family members who struggled with substance use, mental health issues, rage, narcissistic behaviors, or were abusive. …
Do you find it difficult to feel good about yourself? Do you compare yourself to others and feel defective, inferior, or inadequate? When you don’t have a strong sense of self-worth, it can be hard to set boundaries, prioritize self-care, ask for a raise, or have healthy, satisfying relationships with others. In this article, you’ll …
People who struggle with codependency, tend to struggle with perfectionism as well. To understand the connection, let’s start by taking a look at what perfectionism is and isn’t. What is perfectionism? Perfectionism isn’t striving for excellence. It’s an unrealistic and unrelenting expectation that you’ll excel at everything, always do and say the “right” thing, and …
Codependency and Perfectionism: Learn to Love Your Imperfect Self Read More »
Do you have unrealistically high expectations? Do you expect perfection from yourself and others? Are you frequently disappointed that things don’t go as planned? Are you exceptionally hard on yourself? Do you feel like no matter what you do, it’s never good enough? These are all signs of perfectionism. Perfectionists set impossibly high standards for …
Gratitude doesn’t always come easy When times are tough—and you’re feeling discouraged, alone, anxious, or angry—it’s hard to be grateful. We know we’re supposed to feel grateful. It’s Thanksgiving time after all. But you may be having a hard time tapping into gratitude right now. Perhaps you’re out of work or you dread seeing your …
Note: This article is about adult children of alcoholics (commonly abbreviated as ACAs or ACOAs). However, the dynamics that are described apply to adults who grew up in an array of dysfunctional circumstances, including those with parents who were mentally ill, abusive, or addicted to other substances. Feeling out of control is scary for most …
Adult Children of Alcoholics and the Need to Feel in Control Read More »
Do you know someone who refuses to take responsibility for their mistakes or wrongdoings? Or perhaps, you’re the one who struggles to admit when you’re wrong. Sometimes it’s hard to admit that we’ve done something wrong or made a mistake. And it’s challenging to deal with others who repeatedly deny responsibility and blame others. Why …
Why People Refuse to Take Responsibility and How to Cope Read More »
Do you criticize yourself constantly? Or think that everything you do is wrong—while rarely noticing what you do right? If so, targeted journaling can help you let go of self-criticism, create balance in your life, and set realistic expectations. This article provides a set of journal prompts for perfectionism and self-criticism to help you get …
Journal Prompts for Perfectionism and Self-Criticism Read More »
In this article, you’ll learn what it means to be emotionally healthy and various ways you can improve your emotional health. What is emotional health? According to familydoctor.org, “People who are emotionally healthy are in control of their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. They are able to cope with life’s challenges. They can keep problems in …
Learn how to let go of guilt, especially false guilt. We often feel guilty when we haven’t done anything wrong or continue to beat ourselves up over a minor misstep. Are you ready to let go of guilt and start feeling better about yourself? If you have codependent traits, you probably take responsibility for things …
