When You’re Hurting More Than Just Yourself – Alcohol and Families

In the midst of alcohol dependence, it’s easy to fall into the mindset that you’re only bringing harm to yourself. You’re the one who is drinking and it isn’t anyone else’s business or problem! We tend to forget that there is a ripple effect and many times we are hurting those we love the most. Alcohol and families are deeply intertwined and affected.

What’s the Harm? – Alcohol and Families

Alcohol and families. They feel the impact in different ways. Even members of the same household will react and be harmed differently. No one gets out untouched though.

Unborn babies

Pregnant women who drink pass the alcohol down to the fetus with damaging and long-term effects. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome causes irreversible physical and mental birth defects.

Children with FAS are born with facial abnormalities, growth retardation, and brain damage that will affect them their entire lives and inhibits their ability to live normal lives.

CDC studies have identified 0.2 to 1.5 infants with FAS for every 1,000 live births in certain areas of the United States. The most recent CDC study analyzed medical and other records and found FAS in 0.3 out of 1,000 children from 7 to 9 years of age.

Children

Children who grow up around an alcohol-dependent person are four times more likely to develop a problematic relationship with alcohol themselves than children who aren’t exposed to it. Is that the legacy you’re looking to pass on?

These children also often have:

Low self-esteem and feelings of guilt and hopelessness
They might blame themselves for their parent’s drinking and feel they are the cause of it.
Loneliness and fear of abandonment
Children in families with an alcohol dependent person often feel neglected and unloved. These children are more susceptible to child abuse, including incest and battery. Also startling is that once they become adults they can have a hard time making friends and being in healthy relationships since they feel they aren’t lovable.
Chronic depression along with high levels of anxiety and stress
The stress of being ignored and around an emotionally unstable person can be especially trying on a child who hasn’t developed any coping skills yet. Chronic depression and anxiety is common. This can lead to poor grades in school, frequent crying, nightmares and panic attacks.

Spouse or Partner

Alcohol and families are most commonly and deeply affected when it comes to the spouse or partner in the relationship. Marriages, where one person is a heavy drinker, are twice as likely to end in divorce over the non-drinking couple.

It’s also common to see:

Conflict between spouses/Domestic violence
Alcohol causes aggressive behavior which can lead to frequent arguments. These arguments can often turn physical when one is under the influence. 80% of offenders have stated an alcohol or drug problem.
Infidelity
One or both partners might be unfaithful in the relationship. The alcohol dependent person is making poor choices due to impaired judgement while the partner is looking for love and fulfillment outside of the dysfunctional relationship.
Financial problems
Missed work, poor spending choices and deceit are common with alcohol dependence. This can create a huge financial burden on the family and lead to loss of homes, vehicles and the ability to support ones family.

Alcohol and Families

Alcohol and families are undeniably intertwined. While we think that it is only the drinker with the problem the effects of alcohol reach far wider and have a much longer-lasting impact than we realize. If you’re ready to save your family and reverse the damage then This Naked Mind is here to help. Download the first 40 pages – sign up below.

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