Inconsistency

The opinions of other people may carry significant weight with ACoAs. They often desire and actively seek the approval of others and have a tough time accepting criticism, to the point of villainizing the other person or ending the conversation altogether.

After growing up with an alcoholic, many adults feel different from others with a healthier upbringing. They tend to isolate themselves because they may have trouble functioning with others or be upset when they don’t receive special treatment and allowances for dysfunctional behavior. 

Difficulties establishing and maintaining positive interactions with others often pose many challenges in romantic relationships for ACoAs. They may stay in unhealthy or abusive relationships or experience extreme emotional ups and downs with their partner.

ACoAs generally don’t deal well with change. Rather than taking the time to identify and process the emotions elicited by a shift in circumstances, many display extreme overactions that serve no purpose.

You may have felt powerless to help your parent with their addiction as a child and want to support them now, or perhaps they developed an alcohol use disorder later in life. Knowing how to approach a parent about addiction can be challenging, but mental health experts offer tips to outline some ...

According to the American Psychological Association’s research on ACoA risk factors, patterns in a family dynamic where at least one parent struggled with alcohol use disorder can create and reinforce mala...

ACoAs may be quick to make choices or react to a situation without considering the consequences or legitimately thinking through other options. 

ACoAs may have trouble identifying and accepting the role their own choices play in their various situations and the current state of their lives and relationships. They frequently blame others for the consequences they face and also show difficulties in acknowledging their mistakes.

ACoAs are often heavily judgmental of themselves and the people around them. This behavior can make it hard to feel content in their lives and relationships.

Many adult children of alcoholics are unfamiliar with the socially acceptable reaction to situations because that behavior typically wasn’t modeled for them as children. Their instinctual response may be to lie, omit, or exaggerate, even when the truth isn’t problematic and would be an acceptable...

Several mental health conditions have been shared among ACoAs. Mental health professionals often recommend cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) to help overcome lingering harmful mental and emotional habits and patterns.

• PTSD
• Anxiety
...

Being raised by a parent with alcohol use disorder can lead to many adverse effects, some of which can persist into adulthood, though that’s not always the case. Read on to learn about how addiction can affect the adult children of alcoholics, how to approach a parent about alcoholism as an adult...