Based on these preliminary results, we included age at first intoxication, anxiety and depression symptoms, and neuroticism, agreeableness, and conscientiousness as potential mediators in the multiple mediation alcoholic parents trauma analyses. Struggles with trust and emotional regulation are also common long-term effects. Growing up in an environment where emotions were often suppressed or expressed in unhealthy ways can lead to difficulties in recognizing, expressing, and managing one’s own emotions. Adults who experienced childhood trauma from an alcoholic parent may find themselves either overly reactive to emotional stimuli or emotionally numb and disconnected.

The common underlying mechanism for these outcomes is thought to be neurodevelopmental alterations that occur in response to the stress of traumatic experiences during childhood (Anda et al., 2006). Taken together, these findings suggest that childhood trauma and alcohol dependence may be linked via a negative affect pathway. Neglect and lack of emotional support are common experiences for children of alcoholic parents. When a parent is consumed by their addiction, they may fail to provide the basic emotional nurturing and support that children need for healthy development. This emotional neglect can lead to attachment issues, difficulty with self-regulation, and a pervasive sense of abandonment that can contribute to PTSD symptoms.

Traumatic Effects on Children

• Steps 8, 9, and 10 emphasize acknowledging those harmed during addiction and a willingness to make amends.
• Misunderstandings can result in defensiveness, or even aggression, that makes it difficult to communicate.
• These unspoken rules create a toxic dynamic that hinders open communication and emotional well-being, often requiring therapy or support to break free from their grip.
• The constant criticism, neglect, or inconsistent parenting they experienced can lead to deep-seated feelings of inadequacy and unworthiness.
• Growing up in an alcoholic home, you feel insecure and crave acceptance.
• Some studies have shown that children of parents with AUD are more likely to misuse alcohol themselves in adolescence or adulthood.

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. It is nearly impossible to predict the behavior of an alcoholic, and family members often feel like they are subject to the alcoholic’s every whim. Children of alcoholics cannot depend on their parent when it counts, and the spouse of an alcoholic must constantly plan around their loved one’s drinking and reckless behavior.

How an Alcoholic Parent Affects Adult Children

However, by reframing flawed beliefs, these individuals can begin to regain control of their lives and start moving in a positive direction.

Emotional Numbness and Suppressed Feelings

• Alcoholism erodes trust, yet trust is vital to maintaining all kinds of relationships, including platonic, romantic, familial, and professional.
• While every home is unique, some characteristics are common in an alcoholic home.
• Even more interestingly, researchers found a DNA methylation pattern linked to higher dopamine activity, which was correlated with greater creativity.
• Having experienced emotional or physical abandonment as children, ACoA may become overly attached or fearful of loss in adult relationships.
• There will be moments when our own attachment wounds get triggered, when our fear of loss or rejection flares up in ways that make parenting feel overwhelming.
• You don’t think you deserve to be happy, have a healthy relationship, or take good care of yourself.

Adult Children of Alcoholics often grow up hyper-vigilant, making it hard to let their guard down or experience joy. Growing up in an invalidating environment often leaves ACoA feeling “not enough” or deeply flawed. From finding the right treatment program for each individual’s specific needs to paying for treatment, making the most of benefits, and explaining what to expect, our Admissions Experts have answers. This means that for these people, the process of finding self-love involves first calming the nervous system through breathwork, meditation and somatic practices.

Finding Self Love

This may be tied to the fact that mental health disorders have a genetic component and people who have them may abuse alcohol and drugs to cope with the symptoms. If your mother or father abused alcohol or drugs, they may have had underlying mental health conditions, putting you at higher risk for them. Shattered wine glasses and muffled sobs form the haunting soundtrack of childhood for millions who grew up in the shadow of an alcoholic parent, their scars often invisible yet profoundly life-altering.

If your parent is the kind of alcoholic who becomes unable to carry out the daily responsibilities of the house due to their alcoholism, it becomes down to you to do the chores that adults usually carry out. Children who must be hypervigilant grow up into adults with hypervigilance. Their nervous systems are brittle, and they may constantly be on the lookout for signs of danger in their environment and relationships. Another example could be the impact of low self-esteem on romantic relationships, such as staying in an unhealthy relationship for too long or struggling to find positive ways to engage with a significant other. Each of these traits can manifest itself differently, which might make them harder to recognize.

While a person’s genes do have an influence on whether or not they will abuse alcohol, their environment also plays a large part. The normalization of alcohol dependency throughout their childhood conditions them to believe that substance abuse is common behavior. Children who grow up in alcoholic homes learn quickly to be on high alert most of the time. The alcoholic parent is unpredictable, and many are physically or emotionally abusive. Children of alcoholics learn to walk on eggshells, knowing the substance abuser could get angry or upset about most anything.

For the family members of an alcoholic, especially children, this often causes trust issues that persist throughout one’s life. When the family members of an alcoholic are unable to trust others, it becomes much more difficult to reach out for help. 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 kind of help, it is possible to overcome these long-term effects and move forward with a more positive future. 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.

Adverse Childhood Experiences, Alcoholic Parents, and Later Risk of Alcoholism and Depression

Lastly, if you are struggling with drug or alcohol abuse yourself, reach out to us. It’s possible to break the cycle of substance abuse and its impact on the family system. We offer evidence-based addiction treatment that addresses underlying issues like ACoA Trauma Syndrome and co-occurring mental health disorders.