These factors include the feeling of being unable to escape from the pain, being at risk in the family, and being frightened in a place that should be safe. Published “The Laundry List,” which describes common characteristics shared by most adult children with a parent with alcohol use disorder. Persons who gave incomplete information about an adverse childhood experience were considered not to have had that experience. However, to assess this potential effect, we repeated our analyses after excluding all respondents with missing information on any of the adverse childhood experiences.
There is little doubt that severe childhood adversity may place an individual at life-long risk for a variety of problems, including those related to mental health, physical health, employment, and legal difficulties (Putnam 2006). It is possible that these increased rates of medical conditions are not a direct result of childhood adversity but rather the result of dysfunctional and unhealthy behaviors in which many victims of childhood abuse engage. We calculated the adjusted odds ratios and 95 percent confidence intervals for the associations between parental alcohol abuse and each of the nine adverse childhood experiences by using logistic regression. Then we calculated the adjusted odds ratios for the relationships between the experiences and a personal history of alcoholism or depression.
Just because a person grew up living under the effects of parental alcoholism does not mean they cannot thrive in adulthood. ACOAs can change their lives by beginning a new chapter in their life to experience hope, love, and joy. Having an alcoholic parent can be a source of shame and embarrassment for a child. They may try to prevent friends from visiting their homes or meeting their parents. There are several issues relevant to the effects of trauma on a child in these types of households. The most critical factors include the age of the child, the duration of the trauma during development, and the ability of the child to have support within the family or from an outside source.
Difficulties in Relationships
Children may also be more vulnerable to developing substance use disorders themselves as they grow older. In addition, research has shown that children of alcoholics are more likely to suffer from physical health problems, including an increased risk of heart disease and stroke. Finally, growing up in an alcoholic home can affect a child’s educational performance and success, as well as their career prospects later in life. All of these long-term effects can have a significant and lasting impact on an individual’s life.
- We believe everyone deserves access to accurate, unbiased information about mental health and addiction.
- In addition, research has shown that children of alcoholics are more likely to suffer from physical health problems, including an increased risk of heart disease and stroke.
- Evidence suggests that agents targeting alcohol consumption (i.e., disulfiram, naltrexone) can be useful in patients with co-occurring PTSD and alcohol dependence, but additional investigation clearly is needed.
- Or you may be conflict avoidant, meaning you handle conflicts by pretending they don’t exist.
- Published “The Laundry List,” which describes common characteristics shared by most adult children with a parent with alcohol use disorder.
These effects can last long into adulthood and make it difficult for adult children to have healthy relationships. Studies show that children affected by parental drinking may develop serious 8 natural cures for erectile dysfunction problems in adulthood. Children who grow up with at least one parent with alcohol use disorder can have an increased chance of experiencing negative health and behavioral outcomes.
Begin to Heal From Trauma at Promises Behavioral Health
This sense of being trapped undermines a child’s sense of safety in the world and begins a lifetime of exhausting hypervigilance, where they constantly monitor their environment for possible threats. The impact of growing up in a home with one or more alcoholics reverberates throughout an adult’s life. Research is clear that there is a link between growing up in a household with alcoholics and the potential for trauma to children. When you grow up in a home with one or more alcoholic parents, the impact of the dysfunction reverberates throughout your life.
In 2019, around 14.5 million people ages 12 and older in the United States were living with this condition, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). Recovery.com is an independent organization that simplifies finding the best mental health and addiction treatment. Comprehensive profiles of over 3,000 rehab centers include insurance coverage, pricing, photos, reviews, and more.
Why Is It Traumatic to Have an Alcoholic Parent?
We excluded 51 respondents with missing information about race, 34 with missing educational data, and 77 with incomplete information about parental alcohol abuse. Research suggests that about one in 10 children lives with a parent who has an alcohol use disorder, and about one in 5 adults lived with a person who used alcohol addiction and recovery when they were growing up. Parents with an AUD may have difficulty providing children with a safe, loving environment, which can lead to long-term emotional and behavioral consequences. Some studies have shown that children of parents with AUD are more likely to misuse alcohol themselves in adolescence or adulthood.
Mental Health Issues
Next, we assessed the relationship of the ACE score to these two disorders using five dichotomous variables (ACE scores of 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4 or more); having had no adverse childhood experiences was used as the referent. We then assessed the relationships between parental alcohol abuse and the risk of alcoholism and depression during adulthood with and without control for the ACE score. Finally, we assessed the prevalence of alcoholism and depression while we controlled simultaneously for the ACE score and for a history of parental alcohol abuse. However, even when studies control for demographic differences, family discord, and parental pathology, the specific relationship between childhood abuse and the development of substance use disorders holds true. Several theoretical connections have been postulated (Miller et al. 1993).
Overcoming the Lingering Effects of Alcoholic Parenting: Strategies for Healing and Moving Forward
Experiencing these behaviors from a parent can also wear down your self-worth over time. Consequently, you might become more sensitive to criticism and rejection and have a harder time standing up for yourself. All of these behaviors can make it more difficult to form healthy, satisfying relationships.
“Many people with AUD are unable to have healthy conflict, especially when under the influence of alcohol,” says White. If this was the case with your parent, you may have learned to pay attention to small, subtle signs at a young age. Never entirely sure how they’d act or react, you might have found yourself constantly on high alert, ready to respond accordingly and protect yourself. Knowing you couldn’t count on your caregiver for emotional support could also diminish your sense of self-esteem, according to Amanda E. White, licensed professional counselor and founder of the Therapy for Women Center.
According to one study, 85% of reported child abuse cases involve alcohol.2 Child neglect is also common. If you’re the child of a parent who has or had an alcohol use disorder or other substance use problems, seek out support, especially if you suspect it’s causing issues for you. Therapists alcohol intolerance symptoms and causes and other mental health professionals with experience dealing with addiction can help. Studies show that having a parent addicted to alcohol causes lower self-esteem9 in many cases. One reason for this is that many children of alcoholics believe they’re to blame for their parent’s addiction.
When you don’t learn how to regulate your emotions, you might find it more difficult to understand what you’re feeling and why, not to mention maintain control over your responses and reactions. Difficulty expressing and regulating emotions can affect your overall well-being and contribute to challenges in your personal relationships. 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.