Excessive alcohol use and alcohol use disorder (AUD) can act like a tornado that rips through every aspect of an individual’s life. It can be physically devastating, mentally taxing, emotionally distressing, and spiritually crushing. These effects don’t just happen to the individual either. They can affect everyone in that individual’s life. In the home, this is especially true of a parent’s alcohol use affecting their kids.
Better Understanding a Parent’s Alcohol Use Disorder
AUD remains a serious and prevalent problem in the U.S. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) and the 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), “28.9 million people ages 12 and older (10.2% in this age group) had AUD in the past year.1,2 This includes 16.8 million males ages 12 and older (12.1% in this age group),” and “12.0 million females ages 12 and older (8.3% in this age group).”
Many people also still have stigmas regarding AUD (whether intentional or not) that keep many misconceptions alive. This includes the belief that AUD is some sort of moral failing or individual choice. This is simply not the case. AUD is now recognized as a chronic disease, and like other chronic diseases, AUD will only get worse, rarely better, without some sort of professional intervention. Of course, for these interventions to happen one must be able to recognize the signs and symptoms of the disease.
The Signs and Symptoms of a Parent’s Alcohol Use Disorder
While AUD may manifest slightly differently based on the individual, there are many universal signs and symptoms that often present themselves in those struggling with AUD. The following are just a few of those signs and symptoms:
- Isolating away from loved ones
- Losing interest in activities once enjoyed
- Experiencing physical ailments that cannot otherwise be explained
- Having cognitive difficulties, such as short-term and long-term memory loss
- Not being able to stop drinking once started
- Exhibiting mood swings
- Feeling overly anxious, worried, or “stressed out”
- Having feelings of worthlessness, hopelessness, and uselessness
- Experiencing suicidal ideations
As one can see, the disease of AUD can have drastic consequences. This is why seeking professional help sooner than later can be vital for recovery.
The Effects of a Parent’s Alcohol Use on Their Kids
As previously mentioned, AUD is a disease. However, it is not just an individual disease. It is also a “family disease.” This means that addiction has the potential to make everyone physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually drained and damaged.
This is especially true when it comes to how a parent’s AUD can affect their children. According to the peer-reviewed journal, Alcohol Health and Research World, “Parental problem drinking can adversely affect adolescent development and adjustment by interfering with parenting skills and marital relations. It also can lead parents to model ineffective coping strategies and other problem behaviors. Children with problem-drinking parents are at risk for alcohol and other drug use as well as for psychological problems.”
Adult Children: Navigating a Parent’s Alcohol Use
The fact of the matter is that it can be difficult to help get anyone in AUD recovery. However, these difficulties can be compounded when it comes to getting parents the help they need for AUD.
This is because there are many dynamics that must be navigated including the power dynamics that often exist between parents and children (even adult children). The key is to understand that recovering from AUD is a personal journey that takes willingness. The good news is that when that willingness exists there are many effective ways to recover.
Recovering From Alcohol Use Disorder
The best approach for treating AUD, regardless of the demographic, is to take a multi-angled comprehensive approach. This approach should include psychotherapies like cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), experiential therapies like art therapy and nature-immersion therapy, and holistic healing methods like yoga and meditation.
Yoga and meditation can be particularly helpful for bringing a sense of calm back into the home while AUD recovery is happening (and in the long term). Yoga also offers a myriad of other benefits. According to the International Journal of Yoga (IJOY), “Yoga therapy involves instruction in yogic practices and teachings to prevent reduce or alleviate structural, physiological, emotional and spiritual pain, suffering or limitations. Yogic practices enhance muscular strength and body flexibility, promote and improve respiratory and cardiovascular function, promote recovery from and treatment of addiction, reduce stress, anxiety, depression, and chronic pain, improve sleep patterns, and enhance overall well-being and quality of life.”
Healing at the Cellular Level With Lantana Recovery
Here at Lantana Recovery, we understand the difficulties and complexities that come with getting the loved one the help they need for AUD. This is especially true with parents.
The good news is there is help and there is hope, and we offer both. Recovery is possible. We can help make it a reality.
Many people don’t realize how a negative drinking culture in the home can potentially damage the health and well-being of a child. These damages significantly increase if one or both of the parents have alcohol use disorder (AUD). This includes an increased potential for the child to acquire an addiction later in life or even in adolescence. If you feel like you or a loved one (like a parent) are struggling with issues of addiction or other co-occurring issues, we can help get you on the positive path toward long-term recovery right away. You can do this. For more information about AUD treatment, please reach out to Lantana Recovery today at (866) 997-2870.
