Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
PTSD
The general public typically associates Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) with individuals who have experienced military combat. Our Fellowship text describes PTSD on page 12, stating: "A PTSD event or events produce such a high state of threat or danger that experts believe it changes the body chemistry. Long after the threat has passed, the PTSD sufferer remains on 'alert' to ward off future events that could retrigger the fear of the previous fearful event."
A significant number of Adult Children of Alcoholics who grew up in dysfunctional families faced their own type of war zones, encountering frequent and sometimes daily traumatic events. This ongoing trauma is typically referred to as Complex PTSD or C-PTSD. Many Adult Children of Alcoholics are constantly vigilant, surveying our environment—either consciously or unconsciously. This state of alertness often prevents us from fully living our lives, leading us to exhibit the Laundry List Traits.
Regardless of whether your trauma experiences were continuous or isolated, you can find a supportive community in ACA with others who share similar life stories.