Self-Sabotage Syndrome: Adult Children in the Workplace

From the moment I started to read this book, I was 'smacked in the face' by the relevence of this book in my life at this "exact juncture" !.I have just lost a job that I "loved", it was my "home away from home" (I actually used to say that...); my boss was my "best friend", I would do virtually ANYTHING to support and help him in the work place and in his failing personal life. I was terminated because his wife felt we were "too close" after two years of blind loyalty. Terminated ! No notice ! No severance ! Lost my job, my best friend, my source of income, my entire world/life.READ THIS BOOK IF YOU ARE AN ADULT CHILD !!! I wish I had read it before. I will not be the 'enabler' and the 'fall guy' the next time.I highly recommend this book to anyone that is an ADULT CHILD and find themselves without a job/sense of self/reason to live/purpose in life because the "job" and "your life" ARE NOT intertwined unless you allow them to be. I did not establish correct "boundries", and coincidentally, my previous "boss/best-friend" is an Adult Child also.I just ordered the book to be delivered to my previous boss/best friend. Hopefully he will learn from this book as well, and not follow the same patterns.

This book is very important, useful and necessary for ACOAs and it’s also terribly written and structure however that doesn’t detract from its value. The author seemed to have too many audiences in mind when writing this book and tried to clump them all together which makes for a confusing read and second guessing what the messages mean depending on which group you are in. However if you are a clinical psychologist working in an EAP program and an ACOA then it’s perfect. It would have been great to split this apart and focus on each group specifically. Still the message about ACOAs in the workplace and how to deal is life-saving.

A decent breakdown of the issues ACoA face on the job. I wish there were more action steps to tackle the issue, but a good read still.

I cannot recommend this book enough. It is short, and quick to read/skim, but it helped me SO MUCH in identifying issues that I'm dealing with - and once I'm aware of the issue (and in my case, how common my problems are among adults who grew up in instable circumstances) it helps me try to stop the behavior or my thinking. This is not only for children of alcoholics - my parents were not, though one grandparent was, and his drinking and behaviors, and his only child's anger and codependency, created enough of a stew to mess me up but good for 30+ years. Awareness is power, though, and now I can see where I'm acting out my childhood fear and insecurity at the office.

This book must be read by who had to grow up with either addictive parents of siblings. The behaviors you used to survive in a addictive environment will not serve you well in your adult life. This book is clear and concise by first describing the particular behavioral, social issues that cause self-Sabotage, then provides detailed step to overcome self-sabotage. The premise of this book is, you relieve your childhood over and over again at your place of work. Great and helpful read, I highly recommend it.

This book truly made me see a pattern I have been living over and over again in every single job I have had. It was partly upsetting because I could see the "bad" things that kept occurring at work were actually because of how I perceived things and the family setting I was re-living every day at my job but it was also freeing because now I know - I AM THE ONE IN CONTROL of how things affect me and that business IS just business and I can learn to not make things personal and take care of myself.

A very good read. Much of the information is also in the book "Adult Children of Alcoholics". Most likely to touch base if the reader did not read the ACA book.

Even though the book refers to alcoholism, the symptoms and behaviors that Janet describe apply to all dysfunctional families. This is a must for not only individuals who have oppressive behaviors in their families and repeating conflicts in their lives, but also for employers to gain insights into possible dynamics that are occurring right under their noses. Knowing how to address these issues makes for a more successful business and loving family relationships.

I found this helpful as I used to struggle a lot with over working myself, so I picked up a lot of valuable information and tips from this book. I would have liked to see some more practical tasks, like in her other book Life Skills for Adult Children

So helpful in explaining links to trauma...

This is the third book I have read by this author on the topic of ACOAs and once again it is succinct and pragmatic. Less clear is the end section which refers to a program of help but where to find this program and sign up is left unanswered? But still very helpful.

This is something I just realised which may explain a behaviour I have at work where I am very strict and can be quite hard on others.

great book for people who are ACOA.