Is living with an alcoholic parent harmful?
Many children have a secret. The secret is their parent is an alcoholic. While most children have stresses in their lives, children that live with an alcoholic parent have extra stress. Alcoholism is a disease that often tears families apart. Often, alcoholic parents are emotionally or physically abusive to others in the family. Sometimes drunk parents get violent or they do embarrassing things in public. Children of alcoholics may: Abuse drugs or alcohol themselves. Avoid inviting friends home. Become a family clown or peacemaker to smooth over troubles. Become super-responsible, like a miniature adult. Blame themselves for a parent’s alcoholism. The parent may also blame the child. As a result, many children of alcoholics feel unloved and unlovable. Feel angry and disappointed by parents. Feel depressed or suicidal. Feel lonely and helpless to change things. Have problems in school. Have unexplained physical symptoms like headaches or stomachaches. Lie, steal, or become violent. Worr
