Children that have grown up in families with alcohol and drug abuse problems often say that they feel forgotten and neglected, not seen or acknowledged. They also say that they started to take responsibilities of adults at an early age since the substance abusing parent didn't take that responsibility.
A woman that I met, that grew up with an alcoholic father, has told me that her feelings were never tended to and that they didn't talk about feelings in her family. This is why she today, as an adult, has taken on the challenge to put words on the feelings she feel in different situations.
Being emotionally neglected as a child has its consequences once the child becomes an adult.. When one of the parents has an alcohol or drug addiction problem, that person is probably periodically unable to give attention to their child's feelings. And if the other parent has their attention on the addict, then the child will be forgotten. As an adult the forgotten child might have low self esteem, easily conform to other's wishes without thinking about what they want, trying to perform in order to get noticed or not being able to handle or trust their own feelings.
This is only a single problem amongst many that children growing up with parents who suffers from addiction experience.
We need to recognize and help these children, and we also need to help the many adults who still suffers from the consequences.of going through this type of childhood. Especially those who find it hard talking about their past or their feelings. There is help to give and there is help to be given!
Do you have any thoughts or questions?
Please send me an email at: info@carinabang.se
Take care!
/Carina
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