The Trauma of Children of People With Addiction
Trauma, such as growing up in an alcoholic home, can leave the adult child of an alcoholic in isolation and at higher risk for depression. Growing up in an alcoholic home can also lead to poor self-care routines leaving the person open for disease. You’re not to blame if you learned to use alcohol as a means of dealing with trauma from your childhood, but you can always take action to learn new, more helpful coping mechanisms. Children largely rely on their parents for guidance learning how to identify, express, and regulate emotions.
They can provide specialized assessment and tailored treatment to address your unique needs and challenges. People with complex post-traumatic stress disorder (CPTSD) often experience chronic emotional distress. Symptoms include emotional dysregulation, intense shame, and a negative self-concept due to prolonged exposure to trauma. Some studies have shown that children of parents with AUD are more likely to misuse alcohol themselves in adolescence or adulthood. They may begin drinking alcohol at a younger age than other people and progress quickly to a problematic level of consumption. Although evidence is conflicting, some behavioral changes appear to occur in children, adolescents, and adults who had a parent with AUD.
Dysfunction and Conflict in the Family Unit
This can lead to challenges in personal and professional relationships, as well as difficulties in coping with stress and life’s challenges. Many people, including celebrities such as Halle Berry, grew up in families affected by alcoholism. Indeed, a 2019 study revealed that one in five American adults has grown up with an alcoholic in their home. Millions of people experience long-term effects from living in an alcoholic home, including mood disorders like depression, anxiety, and the risk of substance abuse.
Alcohol Use in Families: Impact on Adult Children
- “In this process, you’ll process unresolved traumatic experiences and develop tools to formulate healthy relationships and communicate your needs,” she explains.
- By Buddy TBuddy T is a writer and founding member of the Online Al-Anon Outreach Committee with decades of experience writing about alcoholism.
- While hypervigilance is a coping mechanism, it becomes a liability in adulthood when one is constantly waiting for someone to attack or something terrible to happen.
- AddictionResource aims to present the most accurate, trustworthy, and up-to-date medical content to our readers.
Being an adult child of an alcoholic leaves the person reeling and looking for answers. Sometimes ACOAs become alcoholics themselves or use other drugs to ease their pain, which is a remnant of growing up in an alcoholic home. However, when drinking alcohol becomes an addiction, the behaviors, and circumstances of the adult and ultimately their children are changed for the eco sober house worst. Below, you’ll find seven potential ways a parent’s AUD can affect you as an adult, along with some guidance on seeking support. Even those with a higher genetic risk for AUD can often take a harm reduction approach when they learn to better understand their triggers, risk factors, and engagement with substances, Peifer says.
Interpersonal Effects
During childhood, you came to believe that you’re fundamentally flawed, and the cause of the family dysfunction. Your needs must be met consistently in order for you to feel safe and develop secure attachments. Alcoholic families are in “survival mode.” Usually, everyone is tiptoeing around the alcoholic, trying to keep the peace and avoid a blow-up.
Behavioral symptoms of PTSD in children of alcoholic parents often manifest as avoidance, aggression, and relationship difficulties. These children may go to great lengths to avoid situations, people, or places that remind them of their traumatic experiences. They might withdraw from social activities or struggle to form close relationships due to trust issues. In some cases, they may exhibit aggressive or defiant behavior as a way of asserting control over their environment or expressing their inner turmoil. These behavioral patterns can significantly impact their social development and ability to form healthy relationships later in life.
Support for Me and My Family
Our team does their best for our readers to help them stay informed about vital healthcare decisions. By clicking “Submit,” you certify that you have provided your legal name and phone number, agree to the terms and conditions and privacy policy, and authorize Addictionresource to contact you. You consent to receive SMS notifications and promotions from Addictionresource. The ACE scoring tool serves as an example of how there is a high chance of some sort of impact on the child. Diseases that affect both the mind and body can lead to a person acting and reacting in ways that they normally wouldn’t, or neglecting the things they care about most.
On the other hand, people often go in the opposite direction, mirroring the same bad behaviors they witnessed during childhood. You can talk with a healthcare professional if you’re unsure where to start. They may be able to recommend the next steps, including referring you to a mental health professional if necessary.
