Growing Up in an Alcoholic Home

Growing up in an alcoholic home can be difficult and can effect the children profoundly.  Many times the alcoholic will blame his/her problems on their spouse; in severe cases the children may feel responsible for what is taking place.

It is important that the children do their best not to help the alcoholic but to help themselves.  Speaking from experience growing up in an alcoholic and dysfunctional home, it took me many years to get my anger under control and bury my bitter feelings toward my parents. 

In my situation the Mother & Father were wrong for each other from day one, throw alcohol in to the equation it is 100x worse.  Often, the sober parent is so unhappy due to the excessive drinking of the other spouse that the person will take out their frustrations on the innocent children.

It may be hard as the children grow in to adults to accept new relationships and intimacy.  Many children of alcoholics seek therapy for a good portion of the adult life.  Alcoholism is a disease almost as debilitating as terminal Cancer.  If not addressed early on, the alcoholism continues to grow and escalate. 

Children must realize that they did not anything wrong to provoke the parent who drinks.  Basically, the children didn’t ask to be born and they are innocent bystanders.   The children need to bury themselves in their schoolwork and school activities.  You cannot let the alcoholic parent get the better of you.

An alcoholic has to want help no one can force them to take that step.  Alcoholism can be both genetic and environmental.  Meaning, certain genes may contribute to the weakness for alcohol and environmental surroundings can have a strong impact. 

There are several books available that tell children how to cope with alcoholism in the home.  Keep in mind, it is never easy and it will be a challenge trying to keep positive and move on with your life.  However, you must do it!