Understanding Alcoholism in the Family
Pamela’s father drinks alcohol. In fact, he drinks alcohol a lot and drinks alcohol regularly. Although he goes to work every day, he drinks alcohol everyday as well.
Scott’s mother was a stay at home mom. Things are good with Scott’s mother except for the times when she starts drinking. Almost like clockwork, Scott’s mother starts drinking on a Friday once a month. She continues drinking throughout the entire weekend, alternating between drinking and being passed out. She even neglects eating.
Persons who grow up in an alcoholic family have common symptoms and behaviors as a result of growing up in this type of home.
What is an Alcoholic Family?
Put simply, the alcoholic family is a family in which the disease of alcoholism has affected the way the family system operates. The influence of the disease invades all aspects of family life and the family operates in a way that is basically unhealthy. (1).
There are 4 Types of Alcoholic Families
Type 1: in this family, there is active alcoholism in every generation. Parents, children, grandparents and great grandparents often regularly use alcohol.
Type 2: In the nuclear family (parents, kids), the alcoholic has stopped drinking, however, the family system still operates as if alcoholism is still active (often associated with the term—dry drunk). Alcoholism is still active in earlier generations though, like in grandparents, etc.
Type 3: Active drinking has been removed from the family for 1 or more generations. For example, parents may drink only socially, say 3 times a year even though a grandparent or great grandparent was an alcoholic.
Type 4: This is a non-alcoholic family, but 1 member becomes an alcoholic. For example, there is no alcoholism in a parent, grandparent or great grandparent, but a member of the nuclear family begins drinking and becomes an alcoholic. 1
Alcoholism affects every family member. For more information about the effects of alcohol on the family, please refer to the continuing article of “The Effects of Alcoholism on Family Members”.
Many persons who have experienced addiction themselves or in others, seek mental health treatment from a counselor, therapist, psychologist of psychiatrist to assist them in coping with and overcoming the effects of addiction.
REFERENCES
Kristberg, W. (1985). The Adult Children of Alcoholic’s Syndrome: A step-by-step guide to discovery and recovery. Bantam Books.