This article raises some questions concerning the significance of the family in human life as well as family-related dysfunctions.The author discusses the conditions for the formation of the Adult Children of Alcoholics Syndrome which are associated with the childhood and growing up in a family with alcohol problems. The adult life of such children is often based on a series of irrational and destructive beliefs that allowed them to survive childhood trauma. They tend to found their lives on three basic rules: do not tell, do not feel, do not trust. This group of people is characterized by a series of specific traits and behaviors that have an important influence on their social functioning. Moreover, problems with interpersonal relationships and the self-image affecting Adult Children of Alcoholics make it difficult for them to build intimate relationships. Among people touched with this Syndrome we can distinguish three models (children of iron, children of plastic and children of glass) with three associated patterns of behaviour.
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