Adult children of alcoholics tend not to expect recognition of important life milestones. They learn to bury their feelings and struggle to express themselves in healthy ways. Children of alcoholic parents have a four times greater chance of developing AUD later in life.

Depending on how bad their alcohol abuse has been or if medically-assisted alcohol detox will be needed for withdrawal symptoms, entering a treatment center may be a necessary option. Professional medical staff can assist in the difficult process of withdrawal, making the transition into sobriety less daunting. Victim mentality, as it is sometimes known, involves recognizing oneself as a victim of the negative actions of others—whether or not one has actually been wronged. For ACOAs, this could stem from a legitimate history of suffering due to a parent’s addiction, leading to an enduring feeling that they are perpetually victimized in various life situations.

Trust Issues

This behavior may stem from a need for attention, Blood in urine hematuria Symptoms and causes a desire to be seen in a certain light, or as a skewed coping mechanism for underlying psychological distress. It is a persistent pattern of fabrication that can signify deeper emotional issues. People may engage in dishonest behavior when they perceive an opportunity to access desirable outcomes that honesty would not provide. This suggests that for some ACOAs, lying can be a learned behavior that offers a sense of security or advantage, albeit a false one. The expectation of negative outcomes from telling the truth, even when unfounded, can trigger this behavior. Recognizing when past traumas influence present-day perceptions and behaviors can be the first step toward addressing this pattern and fostering more constructive ways of relating to oneself and others.

Overreactions to change can manifest as emotional outbursts, anxiety attacks, or an overwhelming sense of fear or anger. This defensive mechanism serves as a form of self-protection, harkening back to the need for vigilance in their formative years. ACOAs might find change particularly distressing because it can trigger subconscious memories of instability and lack of control. Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is highlighted as a method that specializes in increasing emotional regulation and decreasing impulsivity, which is particularly useful for those with this background.

Personality Traits of Adult Children of Alcoholics

Some children react to all the chaos and confusion by becoming hyper-responsible. These “parentified” children often end up taking care of the alcoholic parent, the household, neglected siblings and themselves. Unfortunately, these children often end up having trouble setting healthy boundaries in relationships and can end up struggling with issues of codependence for years to come. This is often a learned behavior in alcoholic households, where the entire family strives to keep the parent’s addiction secret. Having an alcoholic parent increases a child’s risk of being physically, sexually or emotionally abused, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Adverse Childhood Experiences study. Behavioral problems in school — such as lying, stealing and fighting — are common, and children from alcoholic households tend to be more impulsive than other kids.

Adult Children of Alcoholics − Key Takeaways

The isolation seen in ACOAs might manifest in different forms, ranging from physical distancing from friends and family to emotional detachment in relationships. Research indicates that impulsivity can predict changes in antisocial behavior and alcohol use from early to mid-adolescence. As such, targeting impulsivity early on could prevent the development of these behaviors later in life. Impulsivity is not only a feature of personality disorders but can also be a symptom of broader mental health issues. In addition to the higher rate of selecting an alcoholic partner, ACOAs are also more likely to experience the symptoms of trauma.

1. They can own their truth, grieve their losses and become accountable for how they live their life today.
2. All of these behaviors can make it more difficult to form healthy, satisfying relationships.
3. While there is evidence of genetic predisposition to alcohol abuse, children of alcoholics can thrive with support and intervention.
4. According to a study by the National Association of Children of Alcoholics (NACOA), there are over 11 million children in the U.S. under the age of 18 living in families with at least one alcoholic parent.

Mostafa NR et al. 8 found higher BMI in NAFLD cases, but in contrast to the present study, they did not report a significant difference regarding liver enzymes and lipid profile compared to non-NAFLD cases. The study was conducted on 100 obese NAFLD children (54 (54%) males and 46 (46%) females). The same number of obese children with no NAFLD (65 (65%) males and 35 (35%) females) served as the control group. Their demographic, clinical, and laboratory data are illustrated in Table 1. Statistical analysis was conducted using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, version 25 (IBM Corp., Armonk, N.Y., USA).

In the absence of a stable, emotionally supportive enviornment, you learned to adapt in the only ways you knew how. As an adult, though, you can learn to manage and change specific behaviors that no longer help you, which can improve your overall well-being, quality of life, and relationships with others. Couples therapy can also have benefit, according to White, if you believe behaviors rooted in your childhood experiences have started to affect your romantic relationship. When you don’t learn how to regulate your emotions, you might find it more difficult to understand what you’re feeling and why, not to mention maintain control over your responses and reactions.

You don’t have to feel limited in how you process and navigate this situation. Sherry Gaba, LCSW, is a licensed psychotherapist/author specializing in addictions, codependency, and underlying issues such as depression, trauma, and anxiety. Growing up in an alcoholic household can be a lonely, scary and confusing experience, and research shows it impacts nearly every aspect of a child’s existence.