Children Of Alcoholics

Children of alcoholics are at risk from two different fronts. The first results from being raised around alcohol and by an alcoholic while the second risk comes from the genetic aspects of what causes someone to become an alcoholic. Regardless of whether children of alcoholics are raised by alcoholics, they are at risk for alcoholism or alcoholism-related problems. Children of alcoholics may exhibit some of the following characteristics:

* Higher risk for alcohol and other drug problems
* Pervasive tension and stress
* Higher levels of anxiety and depression
* Poor performance in school
* Problems with coping

The problems that come from being raised by an alcoholic are generally environmental and with a lot of hard work can be overcome. Generally, when a child is raised around alcohol and excessive drinking there is a tendency for that child to use alcohol as adults. Many times children grow up and conduct themselves and their families in a way that is very similar to the way they were raised. It takes a conscious effort to “break the cycle” of addiction that they have witnessed and not carry on that same lifestyle to their children.

The problems that are genetic are more difficult to overcome but once the child is aware that her or she will have a tendency toward addiction they can change the way they deal with stress and other risk factors to help avoid alcoholism. A gene can determine whether a person will have a tendency toward an addiction toward alcohol. In addition, there are personality and mental health examinations that can be done that can let a person know if they are at risk of being an addict. Professional addiction counselors recommend that if a person has the gene or tests positive on the examinations they should abstain from the use of alcohol. The genetic push toward addiction is so strong that to tempt the body by using addictive substances is considered risky behavior and should not be attempted.

As adults, children of alcoholics tend to have similar characteristics. Adult children typically have to guess what normal behavior is because it was not modeled for them as children. Adult children also have a tendency to lie in situations when it would be just as easy to tell the truth. No one knows why this happens exactly but it is a common characteristic of this people group. Because of lack of trust of others, they often have problems forming intimate relationships and if developed, they have trouble nurturing the relationships. Adult children of alcoholics also tend to constantly seek approval from others and feel like they have to super responsible. Adult children of alcoholics are often accused of acting like children. This is most commonly because people who never really grew up themselves raised them. It is suggested for anyone who grew up with alcoholic parents to seek professional counseling. There are many ways that people can be taught to break the cycle of dysfunction that is caused by alcoholism.

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