Recovery · Family of Origin
Adult Children of Alcoholics — Laundry List
Rate the 14 ACA traits and the family role you carried
The ACA "Laundry List" (Tony A., 1978) describes 14 traits adult children of alcoholic or otherwise dysfunctional families tend to carry into adulthood. Reading them isn't about labelling yourself — it's about recognizing that what you thought was personality is often a survival strategy that's still running.
The traits — which fit, and how
Mark how true each is for you (0–10), and give one example.
1.I became isolated and afraid of people and authority figures.
0–10
nonemost
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
2.I became an approval seeker and lost my identity in the process.
0–10
nonemost
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
3.I am frightened by angry people and any personal criticism.
0–10
nonemost
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
4.I either became an alcoholic / addict, married one, or both — or found another compulsive personality.
0–10
nonemost
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
5.I live life from the viewpoint of victim and am attracted by that weakness in others.
0–10
nonemost
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
6.I have an overdeveloped sense of responsibility — easier to be concerned with others than myself.
0–10
nonemost
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
7.I get guilt feelings when I stand up for myself instead of giving in.
0–10
nonemost
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
8.I became addicted to excitement.
0–10
nonemost
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
9.I confuse love and pity, and tend to 'love' people I can pity and rescue.
0–10
nonemost
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
10.I have stuffed my feelings from traumatic childhoods and lost the ability to feel.
0–10
nonemost
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11.I judge myself harshly and have very low self-esteem.
0–10
nonemost
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
12.I am a dependent personality, terrified of abandonment, and will do anything to hold on.
0–10
nonemost
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
13.Alcoholism / dysfunction is a family disease — I became a para-alcoholic with the same traits.
0–10
nonemost
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
14.Para-alcoholics are reactors rather than actors.
0–10
nonemost
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
The role I played in my family
Hero, scapegoat, lost child, mascot, caretaker, parentified child.
Where that role still runs my life
One trait I want to bring to therapy or a meeting this week