Studies also revealed that children who used active coping strategies (e.g., problem solving) were less likely to experience symptoms of depression. However, this approach was less common in children with mentally unwell parents compared to their peers. Teenagers who had clear goals, like aspirations for higher education or job opportunities, for example, were better able to cope with their situation. Break Unhealthy PatternsChildren of alcoholics often carry learned behaviors, such as seeking approval, avoiding conflict, or neglecting their own needs.
However, with the right resources, support, and strategies, it is possible to navigate the challenges, heal the PTSD from an alcoholic spouse, and build a healthier future. Many factors combine to affect the exact symptoms an individual with PTSD will exhibit. Specific factors can include the child’s intellectual development, presence of other caregivers, and amount of time spent in the traumatic environment. When adults experience PTSD, they often have symptoms of flashbacks and nightmares.
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. By volunteering at the Greater Dallas Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse, she became interested in addiction and recovery. Her practicum in graduate school included working with veterans and women in recovery through art therapy techniques.
Thriving as a Mature Adult Who Grew Up in an Alcoholic Home
This is particularly common for the oldest child in the home, who may end up taking on cooking, cleaning, and other household chores, as well as parenting siblings. CPTSD Foundation provides a tertiary means of support—adjunctive care designed to complement, not replace, professional treatment. Our industry-leading ancillary products and services are educational and supportive in nature and are intended to supplement individual therapy. Participation in CPTSD Foundation programs does not establish a therapist-client, doctor-patient, or any other professional healthcare relationship. Each of our members must be engaged in individual therapy and medically stable before participating in our programs. Often, children feel trapped and unable to escape from families caught up in the tragedy of alcoholism in their families.
Impact of Alcoholic Parents on Children – What To Do?
In addition to the higher rate of selecting an alcoholic partner, ACOAs are also more likely to experience the symptoms of trauma. 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. 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. He is also a man in long-term recovery and has a son in recovery as well. Through this journey, few would find it difficult to relate to Steve, making him especially adept at developing relationships with clients and their families. Recovery is so central to his life, that at the age of 52, Steve closed a successful consulting firm and returned to school to become a licensed clinical social worker, as well as a licensed chemical dependency counselor.
Learn New Emotional and Behavioral Tools
By understanding how childhood experiences shape adult behavior, families can interrupt harmful cycles and foster healthier dynamics. Build Emotional ResilienceEngaging in activities that foster self-expression, like journaling, art, or sports, can help children develop emotional resilience. Support groups, such as Alateen, provide a safe space to connect with others who share similar experiences and build a sense of community. Engaging in hobbies, exercising, and maintaining connections with supportive friends and family are all ways to prevent burnout.
What are the Symptoms of PTSD in Young Children?
Because as a child life felt out of control and unpredictable, as an adult you try to control everyone and everything that feels out of control (which is a lot). You struggle to express yourself, subconsciously remembering how unsafe it was to speak up in your family. It is important to remember that there is hope and healing available for those who have been affected by growing up in an alcoholic home. With the right ptsd from alcoholic parent kind of help, it is possible to overcome these long-term effects and move forward with a more positive future.
Lifestyle
In other words, it is not just your life that is impacted by drinking alcohol. These trust issues can also impact an adult child’s personal relationships. They may have difficulty getting close with anyone, let alone being in a romantic relationship.
Averie believes everyone can change, and she shows a clear love for being part of the process and empowering individuals along the way. In Averie’s free moments, you can catch her spending time with her partner, watching reality TV, or playing video games. We provide treatment for addiction and dual diagnosis that is both life-long and life-changing. At Stages of Recovery, our continuum of care helps individuals struggling with addiction become the people they were meant to be. Addiction and mental health disorder effects the lives of millions of Americans each year. Contact Inner Voyage Recovery Center today to get the help you deserve.
One cannot go back in time to change the behaviors of the people you grew up with. The only path towards healing involves seeking treatment and advocating for change. Children of alcoholic parents deserve and have the fundamental right to confront their past, speak honestly of its impact, and make a better future for themselves. Reframe Harmful BeliefsMany children blame themselves for their parent’s addiction or carry misplaced guilt into adulthood.
Spouses often develop co-dependency, a condition marked by an unhealthy focus on meeting the needs of the alcoholic at the expense of their own well-being. They may feel compelled to control or “fix” their partner’s behavior, leading to frustration and burnout. This PTSD from an alcoholic spouse can also foster feelings of guilt and inadequacy, as partners often blame themselves for their loved one’s addiction. Living with the PTSD from an alcoholic spouse or living with the alcoholic spouse often results in physical stress for family members. For spouses, the demands of compensating for the alcoholic’s neglect—whether managing household responsibilities, dealing with their erratic behavior, or cleaning up after them—can lead to exhaustion. Sleepless nights, constant caregiving, and the stress of maintaining a semblance of normalcy can wear down physical health, contributing to issues like headaches, high blood pressure, and weakened immunity.
Catalina Behavioral Health can help you start having difficult conversations with your children about your substance use disorders and any comorbid mental health conditions. All of our mental health providers are skilled at helping you to knit your family back together. Catalina Behavioral Health can help you to create healthy relationships in your life, whether you have younger children or an adult child. We offer family therapy as a core component of our programs, so that you can work through trauma with your kids and set them up for success in the future.
- Family members fear that the alcoholic will put his or her own safety at risk, too.
- Whether you’re seeking treatment for yourself or a loved one, we’re here with immediate access to the help you need.
- Stages of Recovery provided him with the tools, guidance, and community needed to build a life worth living.
- A high percentage (42.9 percent) of the study participants had PTSD, although data analysis for specific disorders was not conducted.
Second, they have witnessed substance use and it was role modeled for them. For people who grew up with an alcoholic parent, the PTSD they experience is often very complex. While many people who have PTSD experienced a single traumatic event, for adult children of alcoholics, PTSD is often the result of many years of trauma, instability and chaos. As an ACoA, PTSD may be affecting many aspects of your life, including maintaining positive relationships, having a healthy sense of self-esteem and experiencing joy and fulfillment. Taking steps toward healing is essential for living your life to the fullest. Challenges with self-esteem and self-worth are pervasive among adults who grew up with alcoholic parents.
What Is the Trauma of Having an Alcoholic Parent?
Anthony took a greyhound to Lubbock and in 2012, Anthony stayed at The Door for six months before moving out. Without The Door’s accountability and structure, he fell back into addictive behavior for several months. Anthony checked into the Ranch at Dove Tree, where he stayed for 30 days. Upon successful completion, Anthony returned to The Door Sober Living on May 19, 2013. This time, Anthony signed a one-year agreement and expressed great willingness to maintain sobriety.
Understand AddictionOne of the first steps is recognizing that addiction is a disease, not a moral failing. Understanding this can help partners approach the situation with empathy while setting realistic expectations for their loved one’s recovery. You may find relief in sharing your experiences, and they may be able to help you. Often the eldest child in the family, the hero, is perceived as helpful among his or her family members and successful by their peers, achieving high proficiency in academics, athletics, etc. However, these actions typically compensate for their unexpressed, negative feelings stemming from problems at home or elsewhere.
Stephanie moved from her hometown of San Antonio to Lubbock, TX in 2011 to begin a long journey toward self-growth and healing. She graduated from Texas Tech University with Bachelor degrees in Psychology, and Science in Human Development and Family Studies. After a year of work in the chemical dependency field, Stephanie went on to graduate with a Masters in Couple, Marriage and Family Therapy (with a focus in Addiction in the Family) in 2018.
They may struggle to establish healthy boundaries or seek validation in unhealthy relationships. Living in an unpredictable environment where their needs are often unmet can leave lasting scars. Many children learn to suppress their feelings, internalizing guilt and shame while struggling to form healthy, trusting relationships later in life. Partners often experience intense feelings of guilt, shame, anger, fear, and grief. The unpredictability of the alcoholic’s behavior—whether due to mood swings, neglect, or broken promises—leads to chronic stress and anxiety.