Perhaps you no longer have dinner with him while he is drinking, or you decide you won’t bail him out of legal trouble. Whatever your boundaries are, it is important that you stick to them. When you hide the truth from others, you are masking the problem instead of fixing it.
It is normal to want to help your parent, but you also want to make sure that it does not destroy your mental health. You may also fear giving your parent financial support if they’ve lost their job and are likely to spend any money you give them on alcohol. Your first step to helping your parent is to identify the boundaries that you expect them to follow.
Alcoholism by Inheritance: How to Deal with Alcoholic Parents
You know it’s not really “them” — it’s the alcohol, and you’re hopeful the horrors will all end soon. That hopeful ending is what keeps you going, even when the process is confusing and distracting and sad. As much as we may want to look after those we care about, the first step to dealing with having an alcoholic parent is realizing that your own well-being and safety must come first. If the situation becomes unsafe or abusive, find a safe place where you can stay. If you’re ready to leave your addiction in the past, put your trust in our licensed and certified addiction therapists. We have more than 120 years of combined experience helping people just like you move past addiction.
The conversation may become uncomfortable fast, but your dad needs to hear you say that he has a problem. He needs to confront how his drinking has affected your life and your relationship with him. Alcohol use disorder is not the end; with the proper treatment, https://stylevanity.com/2023/07/top-5-questions-to-ask-yourself-when-choosing-sober-house.html every individual can achieve sobriety. Learning how to deal with an alcoholic parent can be difficult, but anyone can fully recover with the proper support and treatment. You don’t have to do it alone, and it is always best to seek expert care.
Impact on Older Children
While there is plenty of support available for an alcoholic, it is just as important for their family to get the support they also need. Groups such as Co-Dependents Anonymous and Alcoholics Anonymous both run self-help and support groups for the loved ones of an alcoholic. Admitting to strangers that my parents are alcoholics is not easy, but you will be sharing your story with people who are experiencing something similar to you. These groups can provide invaluable support for you, which will help you better support your parents’ alcoholism treatment. Likewise, if you are the partner or the child of a parent who has or had an alcohol use disorder (or other substance use problems), please seek out support. If you are experiencing one or more of the issues above or any other psychological distress, you deserve help and treatment.
- Our program addresses physical, nutritional, chemical, environmental, emotional, social, spiritual, lifestyle values, and challenges.
- “Many people with AUD are unable to have healthy conflict, especially when under the influence of alcohol,” says White.
According to the National Institutes of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), family intervention is often the turning point for many alcoholics, as they are provided with the motivation to seek help. Having an alcoholic parent can be difficult, so it’s important to get the help you need to take care of yourself. If possible, try to find a safe place to go when your parent is drinking, like a library, friend’s house, or a local park. Remind yourself that your parent’s drinking is not your fault or responsibility.