Adult Children of Parents Who Abuse Alcohol
http://www.al-anon.alateen.orghttp://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/go/help
What problems do children of alcoholics face in adulthood?
Alcoholism is a disease that often tears families apart. Often, parents who abuse alcohol are emotionally or physically abusive to others in the family. Sometimes drunken parents get violent or they do embarrassing things in public.
Adult children of parents who abuse alcohol may:
- abuse drugs or alcohol, or engage in other risky behavior
- not have learned to plan or finish things because they never saw it at home
- become super-responsible and unable to relax or have fun
- feel unloved and unlovable and be unable to form healthy relationships
- feel angry and disappointed by parents and be unable to trust
- feel depressed or suicidal
- seek approval and always give in to others out of fear
- lack self-esteem and self-confidence
- have unexplained physical symptoms like headaches or stomachaches
- lie, steal, or become violent
What can I do to overcome the effects of a parent who abused alcohol?
This problem is extremely difficult to work on alone. Al-Anon is worldwide organization that provides non-professional support to families and friends of alcoholics. For more information visit Al-Anon/Alateen on the Web at http://www.al-anon.alateen.org. For meeting information call 888-4AL-ANON or 888-425-2666. Sharing the secret with a group of people who have “been there†is powerful because of the mutual support that emerges.
You might also consider therapy. The goals in individual or group therapy involve:
- understanding any anger you may have because your parents were not who you wanted them to be
- learning how to manage your anger in healthy ways
- learning how to take better care of yourself psychologically, socially, and physically
- becoming aware of your own power as an adult and your ability to change
- giving up older, destructive ways of coping, and developing newer, more empowering ways of coping
For more information, contact Mental Health America at 1-800-969-6642 or visit their Web site at http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/go/help
Developed by RelayHealth.
Adult Advisor 2012.1 published by RelayHealth.
Last modified: 2011-12-06
Last reviewed: 2011-12-02
This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information is intended to inform and educate and is not a replacement for medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.
© 2012 RelayHealth and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved.
