LESSON ONE Study Guide

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The Web address of this study guide is http://sfhelp.org/gwc/guide1.htm

Updated April 11, 2013

       Clicking underlined links below will open a new window. Other links will open  an informational popup, so please turn off your browser's popup blocker or allow popups from this nonprofit Web site. If your playback device doesn't support Javascript, the popups may not display. Follow underlined links after finishing this article to avoid getting distracted and lost.

       This brief YouTube clip by the author will introduce you to Lesson 1:

       This article will guide you through the first of seven self-improvement lessons. They exist to help protect you and your family from inheriting toxic psychological wounds and unawareness. This studey guide assumes you have read...

• the introduction to this nonprofit, ad-free Web site and the premises underlying it;

• the overview of the [wounds + unawareness] cycle, and...

• the course outline. 

  meet other people interested in freeing their true Selves to guide them in  this free FaceBook group .

Why Study This Lesson?

       At least 80% of over 1,000 typical American adults I've met as a therapist and educator have shown clear symptoms of psychological wounds from early-childhood trauma . They also appeared to be largely unaware of these vital topics. Since May of 2011. hundreds of comments on my Break the Cycle! YouTube videos from over 40 countries around the world suggest that inherited [wounds + unawareness] are global stressors, not just American or Western.

      Until recognized and reduced, psychological wounds + unawareness...

• relentlessly degrade wholistic health, relationships, healthy mourning, and effective communication and parenting - i.e. they significantly lower the nurturance level (functionality) of most relationships, families, and organizations.

       And inherited wounds + unawareness...

• promote widespread inner pain and addictions, obesity, homelessness, crime, depression, abortions, divorce, "mental illness," dropouts, gangs, fanaticism, bankruptcies, suicide, and other major personal and social problems.

Psychological wounds and ignorance seem to be pandemic. They silently pass down our generations because of public unawareness and denial, spreading and weakening our societies. The months of intense media coverage of 2012 U.S. presidential contenders has never mentioned this destructive cycle as a serious national problem.

       This Web site calls adult survivors of childhood trauma Grown Wounded Children or GWCs. Lay literature calls us Adult Children (of toxic parents or family dysfunction). If your reaction is "Well I'M not a GWC!" note that denial (reality distortion) is a common psychological wound.

      Study this lesson even if you're already in some form of personal healing.

       The guidebook for Lesson 1 is "Who's Really Running Your Life? Free Your true Self and Guard Your Kids" (4th edition, Xlibris.com, 2011). It provides most of the same information as these Web pages, and is available in print and e-book formats. If you have an earlier edition of this book, see this note.

NOTE - If you follow underlined links in any Lesson-1 page, disregard the paragraph at the top of the new page that says "This article assumes you have read..." That paragraph is for people entering the Web site who are not following the lesson guides in order. Also, some lesson-1 pages will refer you to pages in later lessons as a preview. Don't follow any inks in such pages to stay focused on this lesson.

   NEW  First Things First

      A widespread symptom of inherited [wounds + unawareness] is addiction to...

• chemicals, including fats, carbohydrates, and sugars,

• activities like workaholism and comp0ulsive gambling, cleaning or shopping,

• a relationship (codependence), and/or...

• a mood state like rage, excitement, or religious or sexual ecstasy..

if you may be or are addicted, you're at risk of misjudging and/or distorting the ideas in these self-improvement lessons. You face a paradox: To reduce psychological wounds, you need to be sober (free of addiction) - but you probably can't achieve stable sobriety if you're controlled by false selves (wounded). Two fundament questions you need to answer honestly are:

Have I inherited significant psychological wounds from mu ancestors (am I a Grown Wounded Child - a GWC)?

and...

Am I addicted to any of the four things noted above?

      To begin forging accurate answers to these questions using Lesson 1, you have several options.

Option 1) Learn about addictions before studying this lesson;

• read this (3 pages) and this (2 pages). For more perspective, view all the videos in this YouTube playlist on addictions, in order. If you do, disregard the links in the videos. You'll encounter the linked resources as you study Lesson 1 here.

Then...

• Decide - perhaps with professional help to guard against denial - am I addicted? ("Am I self-medicating against inherited inner pain?")

      Note that common traits of true addictions are minimizing (yeah, I'm a little overweight, but no big deal") and/or denial ("I am NOT addicted to porn or anything else!"). To offset these protective distortions, ask people who know you - or (better) a professional - whether they think you have an addiction. 

Option 2) Study the Lesson below and then use the knowledge you gain to assess whether you have a toxic compulsion (addiction);

      If you are self-medicating against inner pain (have an active addiction, and belong to a low-nurturance family), you can work to...

3) Achieve stable sobriety before working to reduce your psychological wounds. or

4) Patiently work to reduce your wounds and manage any addiction/s simultaneously.

Because every Grown Wounded Child (GWC) is unique, I can't say which of these options is best for you, so follow your own wisdom and see what works best for you over time. The more you learn about wounds, addictions, sobriety, and wound-reduction ("recovery"), the better your decision-making will be.

      Pause and reflect on what you just read. Ask yourself "What's the next right thing I should do?" Then ask ''Who  just answered - my true Self or ''someone else''?

+ + +

Lesson-1 Self-study Guide

      This keystone self-improvement lesson will help you answer these questions:

• Have I inherited significant psychological wounds?

• If so, what does that mean?

• Who normally runs my life - my wise true Self, or other well-meaning subselves?, and...

• How can I reduce my wounds and live better, over time?

      There are 50 "assignments" (quizzes, articles, reprints, and worksheets) comprising Lesson 1. Take your time, and study them in order. View this as a high-return long-term investment of your time and energy, and use this study guide as a checklist to track your progress!

      Option - keep a log or journal of your experience as you do these assignments. Also consider finding one or more study partners, and do this Lesson together.

If you're an auditory or visual learner, get the essence of Lesson 1 by viewing  the YouTube videos on psychological wounds and working with your personality subselves ("parts work"). They take about 10 hours to view. Many articles in Lesson 1 begin with one of these brief videos.

       Lesson 1 has four modules:

• Foundations - learn about childhood trauma, personality subselves, and Grown Wounded Children (GWCs),

• Assess yourself for psychological wounds;

• Use ''parts work'' to free your true Self to guide you, harmonize your "inner family" of subselves, and reduce psychological wounds; and...

• Learn how to spot and relate to wounded adults and kids.

      Recall - this is the first of a sequential series of seven self-improvement lessons in this Web site. Each lesson builds on the ones before it.

+ + +

NEW  Scan all 4 modules first. Then if you feel daunted by the 50 assignments, consider this possible shortcut to Module 3 and learning to free your true Self.
 

Module 1 - Learn about Early Trauma, Personalities, and Wounds

       When you're undistracted, read these articles in order with an open mind. Expect to take several weeks or more to complete this study. These foundations are required for effective long-term wound reduction.

About Childhood Trauma

__ 1-1)  Compare the premises underlying this nonprofit Web site with your beliefs.

__ 1-2)  Perspective on high-nurturance (functional) families. Were you raised in one?

__ 1-3)  Review the developmental needs of average young children

__ 1-4)  Preview this perspective on effective parenting (Lesson 6)

__ 1-5)  Read about parental _ abandonment, _ neglect, and _ abuse.

__ 1-6)  Watch this brief YouTube clip on "Were You Traumatized as a Child"? 

__ 1-7)  Review these brief research reprints on...

__  parental ignorance and self-neglect.

__  children from "risky families"

__  mental illness often begins in childhood

__  the early roots of empathy  and

__  why do the mentally ill die younger?

__  Option - scan the list of all selected research summaries supporting Lesson-1 premises.

__ 1-8)  Scan these verbatim Web posts by typical traumatized young people

__ 1-9)  Learn what it may mean if you feel your childhood was "average" or "normal."

__  1-10)  NEW  - Consider this perspective on "mental illness"

       Now learn about the common effects of early-childhood abandonment, neglect, and abuse (trauma), starting with personality fragmenting ("splitting");  

  About Personalities

__ 1-11)  Compare these ideas on human personalities to your ideas.

__ 1-12)  Learn about normal personality subselves - your inner family.

__ 1-13)  Read these Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about personality subselves.

__ 1-14)  Consider this concept of a "false self." Are you controlled by one?

__ 1-15)  If you're skeptical about subselves, read this memo to you.

__ 1-16)  Try this safe, interesting exercise: "interview" one of your subselves.

  About Psychological Wounds

__ 1-17)  What's a Grown Wounded Child (GWC)?

__ 1-18)  Learn more detail about psychological wounds

__ 1-19)  Learn what It means to be a GWC.

__ 1-20)  Learn how [psychological wounds + unawareness] are passed down the generations and what that causes. .

__ 1-21)  Read these examples of real Grown Wounded Children (GWCs)

__ 1-22)  Study this example of a real stepfamily affected by psychological wounds and unawareness.

__ 1-23)   NEW  If you're suicidal or you care about someone who may be suicidal, evaluate these practical alternatives now.

__ 1-24)  NEW   scan  this comprehensive "ACES" Web site dedicated to preventing early-childhood trauma.

__ 1-25)  Verify your new knowledge about wounds and personalities with this quiz

       If you have questions or comments on these Module-1 ideas, please contact me.

       This basic education will prepare you to (a) assess yourself and your family for significant effects from the [wounds + unawareness] cycle, and (b) decide whether to reduce the impacts. That will promote more satisfying communications, relationships, grieving, and wholistic health for the rest of your life!
 

Module 2 - Assess Yourself and Your Family

       Premise - Low-nurturance families and psychological wounds are widespread in our culture. The wounds range from mild to severe. Most Grown Wounded Children (GWCs) are unaware of their wounds because of denial and social ignorance (lack of knowledge). Implication - you and people you care about may be living with disabled true Selves and enduring preventable stress without knowing it.

__ 1-26)  Follow these guidelines on wound-assessment.

__ 1-27)  If you have questions on wounds or wound-assessment, check this Q&A or ask me.

       If you feel you do have significant psychological wounds, continue with Module 3 below. If you're not sure, ask someone you trust to be objective (like a counselor) to review this summary and give you an opinion on who's running your life. If you feel your wounds aren't significant (by your standards), skip to Module 4. Even if you're minimally wounded, you can still benefit from Lessons 2 thru 6 or 7. .
 

Lesson 1, Module 3 - Free Your true Self and Reduce Your Wounds

       One key to protecting your family and descendents from major stress is to admit and reduce significant psychological wounds. The other key is to convert unawareness and ignorance into knowledge. That's why this self-improvement course exists. If you feel you're significantly wounded (controlled by a false self), this module will guide you through an effective personal wound-reduction ("recovery") process.

       Based on the ideas in Lessons 1 thru 4, Lesson 5 in this course offers ideas on how to raise your family's nurturance level ("functionality").

       Option - if you want an overview of this module, view all 15 videos in the Lesson-1 YouTube playlist 1c in order (about 3 hours). If you commit to personal wound-reduction, I recommend you do all these Module-3 "assignments" in order. Many of the "assignments" include one or more of the videos.

__ 1-29)  Study this 3-page overview of how to reduce psychological wounds.

__ 1-30)  Experience this video on what to expect as you reduce your wounds;

__ 1-31)  Study this perspective on hitting "true bottom." If you haven't clearly hit yours, view this work as a valuable learning experience (a trial recovery), and go ahead.

__ 1-32)  Read this 6-page guide to "parts work" (inner family therapy). This is one effective way to reduce your wounds over time. Other clinicians propose different ways to help you recover from toxic parents and childhood trauma.

       My experience as a veteran (recovering) therapist is that other recovery methods are apt to be superficial and take longer. Exceptions are Voice Dialog, Psychosynthesis, and Eye-Movement Desensitization and Retraining (EMDR). Christians may find Theophostic Ministries helpful.

__ 1-33)  Consider shopping for a qualified parts-work therapist in your area. See selfleadership.org for leads and helpful resources. I'm a 1992 graduate of their training program.

__ 1-34)  Meditate on this update of the well-known 12 Steps and consider creating and living by your version of it.

__ 1-35)  Decide if you want to tell key people what you're doing, and why. Expect others to not know about subselves and/or to be skeptical of parts work. If they are, refer them to http://sfhelp.org/fam/cycle.htm without preaching.

      If you can find someone else interested in or already doing parts-work, consider teaming up with them. Know that some subselves pretend to want to recover, but aren't really committed. They're not "bad," they're scared, and need patient reassurance and encouragement.

__ 1-36)  Evolve a list of your subselves, and group them as Managers, Inner Kids, and Guardians. Follow the guidelines in this article

__ 1-37)  Learn more about your ''inner family'' of subselves by inventorying your personal human assets.

__ 1-38)  Start with most active subselves who you feel don't know or trust your true Self (capital "S"). Interview them one at a time, and (a) confirm their distrust, and (b) start negotiating to build trust. Use the parts-work steps and techniques outlined here.- ideally with the help of a trained inner-family systems therapist.

__ 1-39)  Patiently repeat this process with each Inner Child and protective Guardian subself who causes your wounds and troublesome thoughts and behaviors. Keep in mind there are no "bad" subselves. They all mean to help, but often retain outdated or distorted information from your early life and unaware caregivers.

__ 1-40)  Practice asking yourself "Who's in charge now: my Self (capital 'S') or someone else? You're "done" with this wound-reduction process when you usually answer "My Self."

__ 1-41)  As you progress at these steps, periodically reread this overview of wound-reduction and/or the Lesson-1 guidebook "Who's Really Running Your Life?"

__ 1-42)  Review your options for improving your _ self-respect, self love, and _ self confidence. These increase as you free your true Self and reduce the wounds of excessive shame and reality distortion

__ 1-43) NEW - Review and reflect on this brief YouTube video on understanding and protecting your integrity. It's the root of your priceless self respect and healthy pride.

__ 1-44) NEW - Raise your awareness of the importance of physical human contact, and discover whether you're getting enough nourishing touching..

__ 1-45) NEW - If you have problems with self control, consider these options

__ 1-46) NEW  If you have problems with excessive procrastination, see this brief YouTube video.

__ 1-47)  Review these titles about "Adult Children" (Grown Wounded Children) to see other viewpoints.
 

Lesson 1, Module 4 - Learn how to spot and relate to wounded people

       As you experience wound-reduction benefits, you'll become more aware of others who are wounded and don't realize they're ruled by a false self. Common responses are to pity, judge, and/or rescue them. This is specially true for wounded mates, friends, and respected (and vexing) relatives.

__ 1-48)  Use this behavioral comparison to recognize people ruled by a false self. For a more detailed tool, use this.

__ 1-49)  Periodically refresh your understanding of Grown Wounded Children (GWCs) and what it means to be a GWC in denial.

__ 1-50)  Tailor these relationship options to fit your style and situation with wounded kids and adults; and...

__ 1-51)  Edit and add these communication options to fit your situation.

__ 1-52)  Tell receptive others about the [wounds + unawareness] cycle, what you're learning here, and about any benefits you're experiencing from this Lesson.

+ + +

As you progress with these assignments, notice any shifts in your attitudes, reactions, and behaviors that feel "significant." Be alert for others' comments on such changes. I suggest you also progress at Lesson 2 - improve your communication effectiveness. These two Lessons use and amplify each other.

       Stay aware that you may complete these assignments, but learning from them has no end. As you gain knowledge and awareness and free your true Self to guide you, your version of these ideas will become a way of life.

Recap

       This is the first of seven self-improvement study guides in the nonprofit Break the Cycle! Web site. This guide outlines 50 practical steps to help free your wise true Self and reduce significant psychological wounds. The steps are in four groups:

• Learn about personality subselves and Grown Wounded Children (GWCs);

• Assess yourself for psychological wounds;

• Evolve and act on an effective plan to free your true Self and reduce your wounds; and...

• Learn how to spot and react to other wounded people

Benefits from the other six Lessons in this self-improvement Web site all depend on progress with this one.

Feedback please - take this 1-question anonymous poll.

       Pause, breathe, and reflect - why did you read this article? Did you get what you needed? If not, what do you need? Who's answering these questions - your true Self, or someone else?

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Updated April 11, 2013