Wounded Animal

Eventually, after my life fell apart, I began to face my family of origin issues, which was an important step for me. Then, when I was ready, I investigated the past by talking to my family and other people who knew me when I was growing up. As a result, the pieces of the puzzle slowly came together and a picture emerged of an unhappy, neglected child caught up in a dysfunctional environment that had been passed down from generation to generation. Next, I did an inventory of what I had done as an adult to perpetuate the pain of my childhood. Then I looked at what I had done to hurt others--like a wounded animal lashing out in pain.[/color]

[Since writing this I have learned that what I thought was my angry inner child is my outer child. For more about this see Susan Anderson's book about abandonment.]