As a person whose childhood was affected by alcoholism and who became an alcoholic, I can attest that consuming alcohol can ruin your life. Alcoholism affects not only the person drinking, but everyone he comes in contact with, especially his family.
This is a series of blogs which look at how alcohol has a ripple effect. It not only affects the person who is drinking, but it has lasting effects on children and families. As reported in allpsych.com.
Older children of alcoholics may show depressive symptoms, obsessive perfectionism, hoarding, keeping to themselves (isolation), or being excessively self-conscious. Studies show that children of alcoholics feel that they are different from other people (and often ashamed of their family situation) so they develop a poor self-image. Many teenage children of alcoholics develop phobias as a way of coping with the chronic stress and anxiety they have no control over.
To this list of possible traumas add the fact that children of alcoholics are a lot more likely to become alcoholics themselves. I don't know about you, but I do not know one alcoholic or drug-addicted parent who wishes their disease upon their children.
Children of alcoholics (COAs) have more trouble in school. In addition to the stressful environment at home that may prevent them from studying, their school performance can suffer from an inability to express themselves.
Do you know a child whose life is being adversely affected this way? Is their parent trying to seek help? What can you do about it? If you care about this person and this child, I suggest you stand up and say something. Have them read the blog here at onlinealcoholclass.com. and hopefully they will be encouraged to take a 16 hour alcohol awareness class to help themselves and their children.