Paper Example on Effects of Parent's Alcoholism on Children and Methods of Stopping the Cycle

Introduction

Alcoholics tend to live in the assumption that their behavior affects them exclusively. It is however not the case as the children living in such families are the most vulnerable to psychological and biological effects of their addictions. Recently there has been an increase in the impact alcoholism has on the early development of children, and into their teens. Arguably, some of the characteristics that they experience are similar to those experienced by their peers who have experienced sexual or physical abuse at some point in their childhood. Few people are aware of the effects of alcoholic parents have on their children, and thus it results in a devastating consequence on the populous. It is because of this reason that I saw it fit to choose the topic. The essay will discuss the psychological outcomes of alcoholism to the children and find methods that would aid in stopping this trend.

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Psychological Effects

Silence and Denial

According to Haverfield and Theiss (2017), children living with a parent who is intoxicating are prone to denial making it hard for them to emerge from the shadows. Consequently, this results in interference and distortion in the thought process which and is an integral part of the psychological problems the children face (Haverfield & Theiss, 2017). The parents coerce or threaten the children into covering acts of violence or shame. Not only are the children afraid to speak out about their experience, but also are unlikely to converse with their parents about any other trivial issue pertaining their lives. Resultantly, the children get denied the chance to develop their freedom of expression, personalities, or characteristics.

Denial manifests on the children in three forms; having trust issues, reduced feelings and interactions with other people.The result of the upbringing is guilt, anxiety, depression, and other psychological related disorders. Children in such homes grow up having difficulty in trusting adults and authority figures (Verhulst et al., 2015). They struggle with initiating interactions and making friends, and the anxiety results in drinking, in the hope of seeking understanding and a relief from their world.

Sexual and Physical Violence Risk

Alcoholic parents are prone to acts of violence; arguably, male teenagers who have witnessed or experienced domestic violence especially with the parents involved tend to express themselves in violent means such as assaulting their mates and pets and bullying (Park & Schepp, 2015). Teenage girls, on the other hand after experiencing violence within their homes result to feelings of depression, anxiety, self-loathing, low self-esteem, emotional numbness, and in other cases turn to self-hurting behaviors such as cutting themselves or participating in promiscuity (Park & Schepp, 2015). All these actions of violence, impulse and self-harm are a symptom of a much more profound problem; deteriorating mental health.

Trauma and Risk of Addiction

The formative period of the child lasts up to the age of 16, and any form of abuse within the period increases their risks to trauma, alcohol use, drug abuse, and sexually risky behavior (Van der Kolk, 2017). The former leads them to avoid any forms of confrontations or conflict in fear of them turning into violence; arguably, it is also one of the factors attributed their aggressiveness and impulsivity. An analysis of dependency of these children into adulthood proves that the susceptibility to addiction increased with early childhood experiences. Substance abuse through the use of cocaine, marijuana, alcohol, cigarettes, heroin, and prescription opiates connects strongly with emotional, sexual, and physical abuse during childbirth. Such teenagers encounter symptoms that are inherent in post-traumatic stress disorder patients (Jackson et al., 2015). Statistics by the National Association for Children of Alcoholics reveal that growing up in an alcoholic family places the child at a four times likelihood of developing alcoholism (Jackson et al., 2015). Smoking and relapses when trying to quit are also directly related to the trauma caused by their parent's addiction when they were children.

Codependent Relationships

The children of alcoholics have a pathological need for perfection and control. It is as a result of lack of approval from their parents and the behavioral trait of suppressing their own needs to please their parents. Consequently, they develop an obsessive-compulsive disorder or the unrelenting desire to seek approval from others. The dysfunctional nature of their childhood relationships affects them in their adulthood where they look for similar dysfunctional traits from friends and their spouses. Several types of research call it the 'codependent relationship' where they base all their self-worth on the judgments of their friends or spouses (Verhulst et al., 2015). They become weary of abandonment and hold on tight to relationships, even those that do not seem right, in fear of ending up alone just like they were with their unavailable parent. Therefore, they create a perception that love comes from similarly traits they had observed in their abusive partners. The result is the generation of a continuous cycle of unhealthy dynamics between parents.

Biological Effects

Apart from the psychological conditions resulting from alcoholic parents, there is a myriad of physiological disorders that are caused by a mother who drinks during pregnancy (Stein et al., 2014). It includes the Fetal Alcohol Syndrome that results in the death of the child or children with abnormal facial, nervous, and growth deformities. Alcohol-related neurodevelopment disorder in kids leads to learning and behavioral impairments. The child faces difficulty in learning mathematics, retention of material, containment of attention, and poor school performance. Other alcohol-related congenital disabilities include kidney, bones hearing, and heart abnormalities. These conditions have no cure, but those diagnosed early can seek appropriate educational and physical interventions. Early discovery also improves the possibility of a better outcome. Moreover, advancement in the field of neurobiology has brought forth innovations in genetics that determine the likelihood of addiction to alcohol. Since one cannot choose their genetic makeup, the children with alcoholic parents are disadvantaged with the possibility of involvement in its abuse later on in life (Stein et al., 2014).

Stopping the Cycle

Statistics by Breshea from the University of California, San Diego show that 50% of these children do not end up following the footsteps of their parents (2015). Presence of a supportive adult, who forms a constructive and caring bond with the child enables the child to develop coping abilities that counter the harmful effects of parental alcoholism. The secret to external involvement is to start early before the psychological influences have had a toll on the child. The adult should introduce a schedule to the child's life since most alcoholic homes have no apparent structure. It would, therefore, be advantageous to add a program to the children timetable to create stability and consistency in the child life (Van der Kolk, 2017). The adult should further involve the children severally so that they learn to communicate and open up with their issues.

The children also need education on matters related to alcoholism and its effects. It helps them to understand that addiction is a complicated disease caused by environmental, mental health, and genetic influences. Consequently, it helps them internalize the situation with their parents and stop feeling responsible for the state they are in; accordingly, education on drugs and alcohol should be provided in the school setting so that most children benefit from the studies. However, children centers with professional counselors and children psychologists should be available within the community. Here, the children will get to discuss their issues and with other psychological activities improve their relationships, communication, openness and further their understanding of their situation (Breshears, 2015). These groups develop to even in adulthood where the adults from alcoholic homes get to share their experiences.

On an individual level, those severely affected by growing up in an alcoholic family could seek options in outpatient psychotherapy. Here, they will understand the impact the alcoholic parent had on their development and how it presents itself in their day to day lives. The option of psychotherapy helps the individual develop maladaptive behavior patterns, improve their impulse control, ability to establish the secure relationship, and enhance their critical thinking skills. Several psychiatric options are also available for those struggling with the addiction already or mental conditions.

Conclusion

Childhood is a period that is dedicated to growth, excitement, and discovery. It is the most vital period of the person's life as it shapes their futures. It is however heartbreaking that so many of the teens and young ones are living in homes that parents struggle with addiction to alcohol; arguably, it robs not only a healthy parent's marriage relationship but also the well-being of the children. The psychological effects towards the children affect them in their childhood, at school, in their professions, their health, and even in marriages. It is, therefore, a crucial topic that would require immediate steps taken towards dealing with it.

References

Breshears, D. (2015). Forgiveness of Adult Children Toward Their Alcoholic Parents. Qualitative Research Reports in Communication, 16(1), 38-45.

Haverfield, M. C., & Theiss, J. A. (2017). Parental Communication of Responsiveness and Control as Predictors of Adolescents' Emotional and Behavioral Resilience in Families with Alcoholic versus Nonalcoholic Parents. Human Communication Research, 43(2), 214-236.

Jackson, K. M., Barnett, N. P., Colby, S. M., & Rogers, M. L. (2015). The prospective association between sipping alcohol by the sixth grade and later substance use. Journal of studies on alcohol and drugs, 76(2), 212-221.

Park, S., & Schepp, K. G. (2015). A systematic review of research on children of alcoholics: Their inherent resilience and vulnerability. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 24(5), 1222-1231.

Stein, A., Pearson, R. M., Goodman, S. H., Rapa, E., Rahman, A., McCallum, M., ... & Pariante, C. M. (2014). Effects of perinatal mental disorders on the fetus and child. The Lancet, 384(9956), 1800-1819.

Van der Kolk, B. A. (2017). Developmental Trauma Disorder: Toward a rational diagnosis for children with complex trauma histories. Psychiatric Annals, 35(5), 401-408.

Verhulst, B., Neale, M. C., & Kendler, K. S. (2015). The heritability of alcohol use disorders: a meta-analysis of twin and adoption studies. Psychological medicine, 45(5), 1061-1072.