Alcoholic in the Family

An alcoholic in the family can be any age, and the behavior of the person affects everyone in the family. The alcoholic can cause lifelong devastating effects on children, spouses, parents and grandparents. Alcoholism plays a major role in family problems across every social and economic class in America. The Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) reports alcohol is shown to be a leading factor in child neglect and maltreatment, and it is associated with two out of three reports of intimate violence between partners.

Recognizing the Stages

The alcoholic family goes through various stages in dealing with the disruption and actions of the alcoholic. Denial is usually present initially in both the family and the alcoholic. Excuses are often made to cover the problem. The spouse or children may put pressure on the alcoholic to stop drinking. Once conflict over drinking occurs, chaos often sets in with recurring financial problems and familial breakdown. It may reach a point of the spouse seeking a divorce rather than continuing to live around the alcoholic.

What to Do?

If the alcoholic in your family is over the age of 18, what can you do? The first thing most parents recognize is a feeling of mixed anger, fear and frustration. It is critical, for the sake of helping your child, that you are calm yet firm when discussing alcoholism. Some steps you can take as a parent of an alcoholic include:

• Keep a close watch, if possible. Explain that alcohol consumption has consequences. Let him or her know that you will be checking in frequently. Be up front with your actions and explain that because of the alcohol use, you are concerned for their safety. Make it clear that this lack of privacy is a direct consequence of drinking alcohol.
• Explore the reasons for drinking. Has something happened in the family dynamic, such as a divorce or move that could have created stress? Are they leaving the security of home for college? Encourage open dialogue without coming across as defensive to learn about any problems that may exist.
• Broaden the activities. Encourage participation in team sports, school activities and community services.
• Recognize the need for help. As a parent, you want to do everything to “fix” your child, but there are some things that require the help of professionals. Sometimes, the best thing you can do is to find an alcoholic treatment facility that is specifically designed to treat young adults.

Effects on Children

Children reap the results of parental alcoholism. Some of the common symptoms associated with alcoholic parents include guilt, low self-esteem, loneliness, depression, feelings of helplessness and abandonment issues. Some children feel they are responsible for the alcoholism because of their actions or behavior. Young children are prone to nightmares and crying, while older children may be more drawn to seclusion or depressive symptoms. Problems at school are common in children of alcoholics.

Get Help

If there is an alcoholic in your family, don’t wait until something irreversible happens, such as crime, violence, battering and incest. Get help today from professionals who understand the urgency. If there is alcoholism in your family, do something to stop the cycle. Our professional staff will help you find the program that best suits the needs of your family.