Those who are addicted to alcohol unquestionably have their share of struggles, difficulties, and anxieties. However, if those people have children, then there is another group that isn’t often considered, but which certainly faces enormous obstacles and that must deal with their own tragedies as a result of their parents’ drinking. These children of alcoholics are more common than you might think, and the effects last far past childhood and into their adult years.
The Many Pitfalls for Children of Alcoholics
“According to the National Association for Children of Alcoholics, around 30 million children are born to alcoholic parents.” That is 30 million children who are likely to be impacted in one way or another by the addictive habits of perhaps their largest influences. There are a number of common traits that are shared by this group, unfortunately, which demonstrate the enormous effect that their parents’ lifestyles had on them in their early and formative years.
There isn’t only one risk that the children of alcoholics face. Some of the largest, and most general, are “a variety of cognitive, emotional, and behavioral problems,” but those are just the tip of the iceberg. They are also at increased risk for developing their own addictions to drugs or alcohol based both in their genes and in the environment in which they grew up. The adults in their lives exhibited certain behaviors, and children often use their parents as models of how to act. Thus, they may take up some of the same practices, however dangerous, and however bad the effects on their mother or father.
Some children of alcoholics may have parents who are trying very hard to overcome their addiction, who still want the best for their children and try to make it up to them. However, others are less kind. Instances of neglect (and worse: child abuse) are common in these troubled families. These awful conditions push those children not only to their own substance abuse habits, but also toward the development of a number of mental disorders.
Living with a parent or parents who are alcoholics is an exercise in chaos: in fear, anger, and emotions running wild. There is often a great deal of yelling, fighting, and possibly even physical violence. Worse still is the guilt that many of these children feel, believing themselves to be responsible in some way for at least a part of the massive disorder.
As they grow up, the children of alcoholics are often ill-prepared to face the world. Their experiences have made it more difficult to connect with and to trust other people, and so they develop social and other disorders that make it even more difficult for them to bridge these gaps. If the person is still young, then therapy can help to prevent the worsening of the situation and may even be able to extend its benefits to the addicted parent. If the person has grown up, then more intense therapy may be needed, or even addiction treatment, if he or she has developed harmful habits of their own.
If you are the child of an alcoholic parent, or if you are worried about the child of someone with an addiction, then contact The Bergand Group. We offer recovery programs for yourself or for others or are seeking education materials about addictions. The Bergand Group is Maryland’s leading addiction recovery center and offers support for those struggling with addiction and mental health issues, including direction for those who may be denying an addiction. We can help you to work through your addiction in a safe and healthy environment where everyone is committed to your care.
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About The Bergand Group:
At The Bergand Group in Baltimore and Harford County, Maryland, our therapists have more than twenty years of experience in the mental health and addiction fields. Our focus is on providing comprehensive mental health care and appropriate care for addictive disorders. We offer both alcohol rehab and drug rehabilitation. If you or someone you know is struggling with alcohol or substance addiction, there is help available. We also offer several other services, including family therapy and counseling. We can help. Contact us today.[/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]
