You are here:
>>
>>
>>
Recovering as Adult Children of Alcoholics

Recovering as Adult Children of Alcoholics

The topic at a glance

How Could They?

If my parents loved me, how could they act the way they did?

This question can continue to haunt those of us who grew up in alcoholic families long after we have grown up and left home. It can mean we experience a deep sense of insecurity and shame and find it hard to fully trust other people.

How could my parent choose alcohol over me?

The reality is that it was never really about us. Once an addiction takes hold, it interferes with the parent’s ability to take care of a child – even the most caring mother or father can become neglectful, moody, and unpredictable.

Broken Bottle
Image by Konto na chwile

The behavior of a parent hooked on alcohol is no longer restrained by reasonableness. One of the effects of addiction is it distorts thinking, and it makes the completely unacceptable appear acceptable.

It is usually only those alcoholics who escape addiction and face their demons that can begin to comprehend the damage caused to loved ones. Even then, they may not be able to face the full extent of the harm caused.

The reality is we can’t go back and fix our childhood. What we can do is begin to heal, and the first step in this is the realization that our parent’s behavior wasn’t a reflection on our worth as an individual.

Is Recovery Necessary for Adult Children of Alcoholics?

Because their survival behaviors tend to be approval-seeking and socially acceptable, the problems of most children (and adult children) of alcoholics remain invisible.

Recovery: A Guide for Adult Children of Alcoholics – by Herbert L. Gravitz & Julie D. Bowden

Just because we seem to be doing outwardly well in our lives, it doesn’t necessarily mean we have escaped any lasting damage from growing up with an alcoholic parent. One of the skills that can be required to survive this type of childhood is the ability to hide our pain, and to keep other people happy.

Some of us might argue that it is best to leave the past in the past – the best thing is to just forget our horrible childhood and move on. The problem with this is that our past may be impacting our current life in ways we are not even fully aware of (see the effects of growing up in an alcoholic family below). If this is the case, we would be wise to deal with these issues, so we can live a full and happy life.

What is it Like Growing up with an Addicted Parent?

The focus on addiction in their families, rather than on the developing needs of children, often causes children of alcoholics to feel shameful and anxious rather than confident and secure. These children learn to adapt to life rather than learning how to live their lives.

After the Tears: Helping Adult Children of Alcoholics Heal Their Childhood Trauma –  Jane Middelton-Moz &  Lorie Dwinell

A family environment in which a parent is addicted to alcohol can be incredibly toxic. One of the hardest aspects for children growing up in this type of household is unpredictability. It can be like living with Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde – one minute the parent can be loving, and the next demonic.

Some of the characteristics of growing up with an alcoholic parent include:

The Damage Done – The Impact of Growing up Around an Alcoholic

We lived life from the standpoint of victims. Having an overdeveloped sense of responsibility, we preferred to be concerned with others rather than ourselves. We got guilt feelings when we stood up for ourselves rather than giving in to others. Thus, we became reactors, rather than actors, letting others take the initiative.

The Problem pamphlet – Adult Children of Alcoholics

As children we are vulnerable and impressionable. As we move from infancy to adulthood, we must pass through several crucial developmental stages. Failure to move through these stages smoothly, can lead to problems later in life (e.g. lack of parental attention in infancy often leads to feelings of insecurity in adulthood). Research suggests that growing up in a situation where a primary caregiver is an alcoholic can negatively impact childhood development.

The lasting effects of growing up around an alcoholic can include:

Potentially Positive Effects of Growing Up Around Addiction

It isn’t all bad news for those of us who grew up with an alcoholic parent. This experience can encourage us to develop certain positive qualities such as:

Addiction and the Adult Children of Alcoholics

Some children of alcoholics will grow up to be individuals who have no interest in alcohol or other recreational drugs. They have witnessed firsthand the damage caused by these substances, and they want nothing more to do with them.

Unfortunately, there are also many children of alcoholics who follow their parents into active addiction. It is estimated that the risk of addiction increases eight-fold for children of alcoholics.

How to Recover from a Childhood Blighted by Addiction

There is no going back to fix the past, but we can certainly come to terms with it and heal from it. If we can do this, we may one day be able to look back on the experience with compassion and understanding. The exact journey we will need to take as part of this process will differ from person to person, but it may include:

Should Adult Children of an Alcoholic Forgive the Parent?

Nobody has the right to be forgiven. Even if the parent has given up alcohol, and is trying to live a better life, it doesn’t mean we must forgive them. In some cases, there has been so much damage caused that forgiveness becomes almost inconceivable.

It is important to understand that if we do decide to offer forgiveness, it is not the same as saying that what happened was okay. Ultimately, forgiveness is as much about our own healing as it is about the other person. It is only through forgiveness that we can begin to let go of the past – if we don’t forgive, we remain tied in a negative relationship with the person who hurt us.

Listen to Our Podcast about Growing up in an Alcoholic Family

Press play below to listen to a podcast where team member Andrea talks about her experience of growing up in a family blighted by alcoholism. She also offers further advice for people in a similar situation:

Have you found this post useful? If you did, you can really help us by sharing it on social media.

Other Topics That Might Interest You

Jamie Hope

Am I Too Old For Rehab?

Can we be too old for rehab? In this post we examine legitimate age-related concerns while also explaining why it is never too late for second-chances in life.

Meditation with Alon

Singing Bowl Therapy

Sound therapy is based on the idea that vibration is a foundational principle of our universe. We can use sound as an aid to meditation and relaxation.

Contact us

"*" indicates required fields

Your Name*
Country*
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

MOST RECENT BLOG POSTS

Media about us:

GET IN TOUCH TODAY AND HEAR BACK FROM US WITHIN 12 HOURS

"*" indicates required fields

Name*
Country*
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.