They may have an unusual schedule that leads to instability in the child’s life and they may not be able to provide consistent care. They may act in unusual or harmful ways towards the child, including making hurtful statements or becoming violent while under the influence. Further, the parents may not be emotionally available, and therefore, the child is not able to have their emotional needs met.

• Living in an unpredictable environment where their needs are often unmet can leave lasting scars.
• While some adult children of alcoholics may experience some or all of these effects, there are many other ways that your life might be impacted by growing up with an alcoholic parent.
• Others may develop a mental health condition that holds them back from fully living life.
• Sherry Gaba, LCSW, is a licensed psychotherapist/author specializing in addictions, codependency, and underlying issues such as depression, trauma, and anxiety.
• The impact of growing up with an alcoholic parent can be profound and long-lasting, often resulting in complex trauma responses and PTSD symptoms that persist into adulthood.
• The impact of growing up with an alcoholic parent extends far beyond the immediate chaos and unpredictability of daily life, often leaving lasting emotional and psychological wounds that can persist well into adulthood.

Long-Term Psychological Impact of PTSD from an Alcoholic Spouse

Support groups like Adult Children of Alcoholics (ACoA) can provide a sense of community and shared understanding that is invaluable in the recovery process. The symptoms of PTSD in children of alcoholic parents can be diverse and may vary depending on the individual’s age, personality, and specific experiences. However, there are several common manifestations that are often observed in this population.

What Trauma Symptoms Might Adult Children of Alcoholic Parents Have?

This PTSD from an alcoholic spouse can also foster feelings of guilt and inadequacy, as partners often blame themselves for their loved one’s addiction. One of the greatest tools in helping people heal from trauma is ptsd from alcoholic parent Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). This aids children of alcoholic parents to reflect on their trauma and reprocess those events, allowing them to see it more objectively with emotional regulation.

What Kind of Treatment Can Aid in Recovery?

While adult children are often the ones to seek help for PTSD, it is important to keep in mind that even from a young age, alcohol can negatively affect children and parental alcoholism can lead to unresolved trauma. Mental health looks a little different for young children, so be sure to note some of the symptoms. Catalina Behavioral Health can help you to create healthy relationships in your life, whether you have younger children or an adult child. We offer family therapy as a core component of our programs, so that you can work through trauma with your kids and set them up for success in the future. In another study of 254 veterans with alcohol dependence and a variety of co-occurring mood and anxiety disorders (Petrakis et al. 2005), naltrexone, disulfiram, or a combination of both was added to treatment as usual. A high percentage (42.9 percent) of the study participants had PTSD, although data analysis for specific disorders was not conducted.

Mental Health Issues

At the same time, the adult child may stay in a toxic relationship out of fear of abandonment if their alcoholic parent was emotionally or physically unavailable, VeryWellMind.com shares. Many adult children of alcoholics will have internalized beliefs that are harmful to their mental health. For instance, they may feel responsible for taking care of everyone around them, or maybe they believe that their behavior is the reason their parent drinks (or used to drink). Healing from the trauma of growing up with an alcoholic parent is a complex but achievable journey. The path to recovery often involves a combination of professional help, personal growth, and support from others who have had similar experiences. Seeking professional help through therapy options and support groups is often a crucial first step in the healing process.

• Typically, at a young age, children form an emotional attachment with their caregivers and this has an influence on their development.
• Therapy can also help partners manage feelings of guilt and anger while finding their own path to healing the PTSD from an alcoholic spouse.
• The pharmacological agent with the least abuse liability potential should be chosen for this population.
• Tools such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can help adults with PTSD discover new ways to cope with overwhelming emotions.
• Children may become extremely attuned to their parent’s moods and behaviors, constantly scanning for signs of potential danger or conflict.
• Several theoretical connections have been postulated (Miller et al. 1993).
• They may have an unusual schedule that leads to instability in the child’s life, and they may not be able to provide consistent care.

Addiction Therapy Programs

And studies show that ACoAs learn to be hypervigilant20 from a young age to protect themselves. Specific factors can include the child’s intellectual development, the presence of other caregivers, and the amount of time spent in the traumatic environment. Their circumstances may also lead to rule-breaking, impulsivity, and aggressive behavior in social settings. And sadly, effects of alcoholism on children can even include trauma, PTSD, and other difficult mental health conditions.

Living in an unpredictable environment where their needs are often unmet can leave lasting scars. Many children learn to suppress their feelings, internalizing guilt and shame while struggling to form healthy, trusting relationships later in life. Partners often experience intense feelings of guilt, shame, anger, fear, and grief. The unpredictability of the alcoholic’s behavior—whether due to mood swings, neglect, or broken promises—leads to chronic stress and anxiety.