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The trauma inflicted by parental addiction is not confined to a single generation; its ripples can extend far into the future, shaping the lives of subsequent generations in profound and often insidious ways. Simple acts of self-compassion, such is having an alcoholic parent traumatic as those below, can provide a much-needed respite from the weight of childhood trauma, allowing individuals to connect with their inner strength. CPTSD Foundation supports clients’ therapeutic work towards healing and trauma recovery.

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• You learn that people let you down, promises are not kept and that love is unpredictable.
• Drinking alcohol has very little stigma and is often synonymous with social activities.
• Getting treatment for any addictions the adult child of an alcoholic has formed is vital to healing.
• Children raised around alcoholism are four times more likely to repeat the cycle while also being at an increased risk of developing emotional problems.
• As well, adult children of alcoholics have difficulty controlling your emotions.
• Children of alcoholic households, even well after they’re grown, may struggle with confidence, social comparison, positive and/or negative feedback, boundaries, self-doubt, and accepting help.
• Dr. Tian Dayton, a clinical psychologist, reports the impact of this trauma on a child and how the environment in which these children grow up directly reflects the major factors contributing to PTSD.

The journey adult children of alcoholics have traveled until they begin healing may seem complicated and difficult, but healing is not only possible but is probable. 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. However, when drinking alcohol becomes an addiction, the behaviors, and circumstances of the adult and ultimately their children are changed for the worst. If you are looking to help an alcoholic parent or for treatment for your own struggles with alcohol addiction, contact a treatment provider today. They can answer your rehab-related questions and explore the many rehab options available.

Trauma Symptoms of Adult Children of Alcoholics

By disconnecting from their feelings or mentally “checking out” during stressful situations, children can create a psychological buffer against the pain and chaos of their environment. However, this coping strategy can lead to difficulties in emotional regulation and interpersonal relationships later in life. So, working with a therapist for adult children of alcoholics at Wisdom Within Counseling helps you gain self-worth tools. Therefore, the Wisdom Within Counseling team wants you to know that you are perfect just the way you are. Even if that may be hard to believe right now, holistic, creative, somatic therapies help resolve complex post-traumatic stress disorder. The other reason children of alcoholics shut down emotionally as it can be too painful for a child to cope with the feelings of abandonment that living with an alcoholic parent can bring up.

This numbness becomes a permanent defense mechanism as you grow old, as you become cut off from your emotions entirely. This numbness can affect your relationships, make it difficult to trust others or open up, even to the people closest to you. Alcoholic parent trauma causes some of the most challenging wounds someone can heal from. The effects of this type of trauma play out in the children of alcoholics on a daily basis, causing feelings of shame and abandonment in personal relationships.

Healing from Living with Alcoholic Parents

It is likely that hypervigilance stems from the shame and pain an individual experienced in their childhood with alcoholic parents. Because of this, children may have had to become aware of all potential dangers at a young age; this can turn into using. Living with alcoholic parents creates a stressful and often traumatic environment for children.

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For countless children worldwide, the turmoil of living with a parent battling addiction is an unfortunate reality. The impact of parental addiction on child development shatters the very foundations of normalcy, leaving indelible marks on their psychological and emotional well-being. The unspoken understanding that substances play a pivotal role in shaping their caregivers’ lives becomes a harsh lesson, one that can profoundly influence their own perceptions and future choices.

Broken promises of the past tell them that trusting someone will backfire on them in the future. Sherry Gaba, LCSW, is a licensed psychotherapist/author specializing in addictions, codependency, and underlying issues such as depression, trauma, and anxiety. Out of necessity, you took on some of your parents’responsibilities. These may have been practical (like paying the bills) or emotional (like comforting your siblings when Mom and Dad fought). Now you continue to take responsibility for other people’s feelings or for problems that you didn’t cause.

• Parents with an AUD may have difficulty providing children with a safe, loving environment, which can lead to long-term emotional and behavioral consequences.
• Having an alcoholic parent can be a source of shame and embarrassment for a child.
• If a child’s parent was mean or abusive when they were drunk, adult children can grow up with a fear of all angry people.
• Indeed, a 2019 study revealed that one in five American adults has grown up with an alcoholic in their home.
• Many people, including celebrities such as Halle Berry, grew up in families affected by alcoholism.
• They may spend their lives avoiding conflict or confrontation of any kind, worrying that it could turn violent.

Underlying Unhappiness? Working With A Therapist For Adult Children Of Alcoholics Can Help

We had to often discuss AA, my new way of life, and what I’m doing to stay sober on any given day. At FHE Health, we use a comprehensive, holistic treatment plan that utilizes evidence-based clinical practices and customized strategies to help people with addictions achieve recovery. Remember to understand the position of loved ones impacted by addiction. They may have been left reeling due to emotional and financial consequences and hesitant to extend trust, especially immediately following sobriety.

Seeking professional help through therapy options and support groups is often a crucial first step in the healing process. Support groups like Adult Children of Alcoholics (ACoA) can provide a sense of community and shared understanding that is invaluable in the recovery process. The symptoms of PTSD in children of alcoholic parents can be diverse and may vary depending on the individual’s age, personality, and specific experiences.