Trauma Symptoms of Adult Children of Alcoholics

Dealing with an alcoholic parent has a more significant impact of alcohol abuse on children than most are aware. Not just alcoholism, but an addiction of any kind causes problems for the substance abuser’s family finances, psychological well-being, and physical health. Of course, there is also a high likelihood that adult children of alcoholics will also fall into the same patterns they saw in their homes growing up. In other words, they are more likely not only to have PTSD, depression, and anxiety, but they may also fall into substance abuse or problems with drinking more readily.

According to a study by the National Association of Children of Alcoholics (NACOA), there are over 11 million children in the U.S. under the age of 18 living in families with at least one alcoholic parent. The statistics provided by multiple sources further break this down to about 76 million adults in the country who have lived or are currently living with a family history of alcoholism. Breaking the cycle of addiction within a family requires addressing both the visible and underlying issues.

Learn New Emotional and Behavioral Tools

Many rehabs offer trauma-informed programs to help you heal from your past, and learn healthy ways to communicate and cope. It’s common for ACoAs to feel responsible for their parent’s addiction and its consequences. Sometimes that’s because a parent directly places blame on their child through their words or actions.

• Through rehab and therapy, you can develop the skills to be able to mindfully react to feelings without feeling threatened.
• Studies show that having a parent addicted to alcohol causes lower self-esteem9 in many cases.
• Children may also be more vulnerable to developing substance use disorders themselves as they grow older.
• The constant criticism, neglect, or inconsistent parenting they experienced can lead to deep-seated feelings of inadequacy and unworthiness.
• An external factor often causes familial roles to shift, such as sudden unemployment of one or both parents, military deployment, or severe illness or death in the family.
• Commonly, adult children of alcoholics experience feelings of shame or guilt.
• This study strongly suggests that alcohol-dependent patients with co-occurring PTSD should receive medications targeting alcohol consumption.

Social Worker PTSD: Trauma in the Helping Profession – Understanding,…

Children who grow up in homes with alcoholic parents and experience trauma and develop PTSD often go on to have their own issues with substance use disorders. First, these children may have a genetic predisposition towards substance use. Third, sadly, in their efforts to cope with their PTSD, they often turn to substances as a maladaptive means of coping. They may find that it helps them “numb out” or temporarily reduce their symptoms and set aside their traumatic memories. Commonly, adult children of alcoholics experience feelings of shame or guilt. It is common to feel like it was your fault for the way your parents behaved.

Recognize That It’s Not Your Fault

This allows children to address the cognitive distortions and low self-esteem that typically impact children of alcoholic parents. They will examine their thoughts and feelings, noting how those two components influence their actions. In a safe space, they can start to come to terms with the distorted ways they view reality. However, your child also needs therapy on their own to learn new coping skills and receive help to process the adverse childhood experiences they have already had. You should be involved in their therapy, but it should also allow them a safe space to process things on their own. Catalina Behavioral Health can help you start having difficult conversations with your children about your substance use disorders and any comorbid mental health conditions.

Growing Evidence of the Impact on ACEs in Adulthood

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. First, are you stressing out every day and feeling anxiety due to memories from your childhood?

• Discover the wide range of issues we address, from substance use to mental health and many points in between, as well as the methods we use to ensure not just temporary relief but lasting healing.
• Whichever camp you’re in, it’s important to remember that whether or not you develop issues from your childhood is not a reflection of your character.
• One reason for this is that many children of alcoholics believe they’re to blame for their parent’s addiction.
• Once you admit to having a problem, you have started down the path of recovery.
• For most people, a combination of therapy and medication is helpful to the recovery process.
• You may start to fear your own anger, needing to control it at all times.
• Addiction isn’t the child’s fault, and they don’t have the power to fix it.

Oftentimes, parents who drink are unpredictable and may place their children in frightening situations. If a child never learns what to expect from their parent and there is a dangerous event, they might start to develop PTSD. Alcoholic parents tend to create an unstable environment in the home that can lead to children feeling on edge. Both behavioral and pharmacological interventions are important to consider in the treatment of alcohol dependence and trauma/PTSD (Davis et al. 2006; Weiss and Kueppenbender 2006).

Mike Loverde is a Certified Intervention Professional with more than 10 years of experience, and he is the founder and president of Intervention Helpline. He is always eager to share his insight and expertise on interventions, addiction treatment programs, rehab insurance coverage, relapse prevention and many other related topics. Read the latest blog articles from the desk of Mike Loverde here, and don’t hesitate to contact if you have any questions or need intervention help now. If you believe a loved one has lost control over their drinking, we encourage you to contact a member of our experienced intervention team.

Over time, partners may develop PTSD from an alcoholic spouse, low self-esteem and struggle to find joy or satisfaction in their relationship. This article explores the profound emotional, physical, and social effects of living with an alcoholic spouse or parent. ptsd from alcoholic parent It also highlights coping strategies and resources for partners and children, helping them navigate the difficult path toward recovery and healing. A family therapist is an important piece of the puzzle when it comes to helping children form healthier relationships with alcoholic parents. This allows everyone a safe space with a neutral third party who can help facilitate the conversations necessary to move forward with healing.

Develop Good Habits

Having a father addicted to alcohol increases both men’s and women’s risk of alcoholism while growing up with a mother addicted to alcohol tends to increase women’s risk more than men’s. And ACoAs are also at greater risk for addiction to drugs other than alcohol. In fact, issues stemming from addicted parenting can still impact older adults.

Adult Children of Alcoholics: Healing From Childhood Trauma and Learning to Thrive

This lack of social interaction can hinder their ability to form friendships and build trust, skills critical to healthy development. The erratic behavior of an alcoholic parent fosters anxiety and insecurity. Children may feel neglected or abandoned, as the parent’s focus shifts toward their addiction. These emotional wounds can manifest as low self-worth, difficulty expressing emotions, and fear of rejection in adulthood.

For some individuals, who grow up in homes with alcoholic parents, their childhood is all about survival. They are just trying to get through each day, often taking care of themselves, younger siblings, the home, and even their parents. This survival mode may lead them to just keep functioning (at least on the surface).