If you grew up, or are growing up in an alcoholic family...?

Question

How has it effected your life?

Answer 1

In too many ways to go into here, but briefly .. kids with unhappy childhoods put up a shell, then later the shell becomes a wall. Kids also assume that their alcoholic family is the only unhappy family there is, suffering because they don't know otheer families in other houses are unhappy too. Read "Adult Children of Alcoholics" for more details -- I cried when I recognized the syndrome in my life. Very good luck to you.

Answer 2

WOW where do I begin. My "natural" parents were both alcholics. When I was in first grade my mother was out drinking and driving and ended up in a wicked crash - she went through the window and was practically dead - I don't know why she lived but know later on in life I look back and think if she didn't I would have never been taken into foster care, been adopted and joined the Navy. I have always been a little leary of alcohol, but not enough to NOT drink. I refuse to be around alcoholics and when I was dating I didn't date anyone who drank a lot either. I REFUSE to drink and drive (I am glad I learned that lesson early on in life). I think knowing now what I went through as a child and having my own children I make a point of not drinking a lot at home either. I occassionally will have a glass of wine or a cooler.

I hated my parents for their drinking, but now that I'm older I have forgiven them for the sickness that they had. I finally have made contact with them, and I thought if I did maybe they would have learned from their mistakes - you see their drinking is what pretty much prompted the state to take us into foster care - they drank so much that they ended up not being able to take care us kids. I thought hey maybe they would have cleaned up their act after oh about 30 years - nope that didn't happen - so even after 30 years they are still alcoholics.

I guess I'm rambling, but yes growing up in an alcoholic family did change my life - for the BETTER - I got out of the family, away from alcohol and joined the Navy. I make sure that any of the sailors that work for me also know the dangers of alcohol becuase I tell them my story and let them know how it really does affect more than themselves.

I hope this has answered your questions.

Answer 3

My dad was an alcoholic and he could be mean when he was drunk. My mom separated from him when I was about seven. Well, it certainly made me careful around alcohol. I also think that I get more anxious than the average person because my dad was so unpredictable when he was drinking. I would never have chosen to go through this, but I think it did make me less judgemental because I learned early on that everyone has flaws. I also think that this made me very aware of my environment and especially of other people's moods, which is useful in my work as a social worker.

Answer 4

in my life it only effected the parts no one Eal's seen like how we never went out to have fun together or never played pranks on people as a family never got in trouble as a family . that's the stuff that matters drunken family's are always to serious mine sucked ya raised with good Mainers but i struggle with seance of hum er and i tend to take stuff to serious

Answer 5

both of my parents were drug and alcohol abusers but i tell ya i never let it interfer with my life i allways tried to distant myself and my sister and brother from their crap alot of people use thier parents as scapegoats for their own downfalls they just wont admit that maybe it is just them that cant let all the crap go everyone makes their own minds up some can deal with the consequences some cant