How alcoholism affects families

Alcoholism creeps into every area of your life and is especially destructive within the family environment. Whether you are the child, parent or partner of an alcoholic, their drinking can affect you emotionally, physically and financially. Here are some of the known effects of alcoholism on families and what Delamere can do to help:

How alcoholism affects children

Children who live with an alcoholic parent are at risk at all stages of their lives. Alcoholism affects unborn babies, causing developmental defects and, in later years, can affect children’s behaviour and mental health. As a result of alcoholism, children may be exposed to abuse, poor living conditions, drug abuse and neglect. If you have grown up in a destructive home, chances are you will develop long-term problems that require specialist support. Our holistic therapists help families affected by alcohol to work through past trauma with Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and one-to-one support.

How alcoholism affects parents

When your child starts abusing alcohol it’s easy to feel like it’s all your fault. You may have feelings of shame or suffer with anxiety and depression. It’s important to remember that their drinking affects you too and try to shield yourself. Alcohol problems can often begin in adolescence when thrill-seeking behaviour is at its peak, but it’s also not uncommon for older adults who are addicted to alcohol to live with their parents. This can lead to co-dependency which is a damaging situation for both parties. Our intervention services can help people who are concerned about a toxic relationship to get help without judgement.

Is your family member struggling with alcohol addiction? Talk to us today

How alcoholism affects partners

Alcohol abuse can also affect relationships between partners both physically and mentally. Living with an alcoholic can be challenging as it can feel like they no longer respect or care for you. This can result in a rift that worsens over time and is hard to repair. In the worse cases alcohol addiction can end in financial problems, extramarital affairs and even domestic abuse. We work with families affected by alcohol to address the root cause of the addiction and learn coping mechanisms that allow couples to reconnect and move on with their lives.

How to cope with the effects of alcoholism on your family

First of all, remember that you are not to blame for your loved one’s alcoholism, and neither are they. Alcohol addiction is a brain disorder that can take years to recover from. While anger and resentment make it hard to sympathise, recognise that this is an illness like any other than won’t get better without professional treatment. Don’t push your needs to the bottom of the list. Make the process inclusive and work together to find the best route forward. Tell the family member how their alcoholism makes you feel. Rather than criticising or being judgemental, follow this up with positive actions you can both take to make the situation better. Delamere offers a wide range of family counselling and intervention services that can help families affected by alcohol to get closer to achieving their goals.