Harriet the Over-Doer - page 2
Alcohol has only touched my life in that I understand that my father was an alcoholic. I never knew my dad. I also never thought that his alcoholism touched me in any way because my father passed away in my infancy.
What I have learned over the years is that just, because an alcoholic is gone doesn’t mean that the family that lived with the alcoholic has ever dealt with the effects of entrenched modes of behaviour that continue long after the impetus is gone.
Have you ever heard of “Harriet the Heroine”? Harriet is the youngster in an alcoholic’s family that strives to fix absolutely everything. Harriet is hardworking, often a workaholic, determined to be efficient at everything she touches and refusing to acknowledge any weaknesses. Harriet is a perfectionist who must excel at everything she does. Harriet thrives on helping others. She can be compulsive and even obsessive. Above all, Harriet cannot admit that there is anything she cannot do well, and no one else can do it better.
Harriet is the quintessential, volunteer, the perfectionist, and the hardest on herself. Harriet often does excel but, in spite of all her accomplishments, Harriet has no self esteem. Harriet does not deal well with alcohol, she often does not drink at all. Harriet deliberately if unconsciously seeks out the people who need the most help. Finally Harriet never acknowledges her perfectionism or the fact that she is a workaholic to the detriment of any personal needs. In helping others and working compulsively there is not time to examine one’s own needs. Meet Harriet...continued
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