How alcoholism affects a family.

Introduction.

Alcoholism is a disease that affects all members of a family. Its effects may cause damage and pain than any other factor to the family unit. The impact of alcohol addiction can have long term implications to members of the family. Each ember of a family will be affected differently due to alcoholism. In an overall view, alcoholism will negatively impact on the growth of a family and may break all the family bonds. Below is a discussion on how alcoholism will affect different members of the family:

(1). Children of alcoholics.

(A). The unborn babies.

Women who consume alcohol while pregnant put the life of their babies at risk. Some of alcohol is passed to the babies each time they take alcohol. Taking alcohol while pregnant will lead to giving birth to children with mental and physical incapability. This condition can be referred to as fetal alcohol syndrome that highly affect the health of the chidden. This children to grow with brain damages, retardation in growth, and many other abnormalities.

(B). Children.

Children who are born and live with parents who are alcoholic experience difficult situations that impact on their growth and health negatively. Such children usually:

Feel guilty and living in despair
Feel lonely and fear to be abandoned
Suffer from chronic depression
Suffer from stress and anxiety.
Have low self esteem.

This experience make their growth to be exceedingly difficult, and it is usually hard for them to make friends. They tend to isolate themselves from their friends. In school, it is difficult for them to concentrate on their studies. Their relationship with teachers is usually poor thus resulting to low performance in their studies. They develop phobias and may exhibit traits of perfectionist. In some cases, the children are subjected to child abuse. As a result of alcoholism in their families, the children develop a poor self image that it grows with them through out their lives.

(C).Adult children of alcoholics.

Once the children become an adult, they face difficult situations in trusting others and having strong relationships. They face depression, anxiety, impulsive behaviour and aggression. They continue to have a negative self image while others too will be influenced to start taking alcohol. They fail to make right decisions and usually make failures in their work and families.

(2). Partners or spouses.

Alcoholism causes physical health problems and mental traumas to partners. Cases of divorce are usually high among those people who take alcohol. Non-drinking partners always have a hard time with their alcoholic lovers. They face exhaustion, resentment, self pity and usually develop a fear among their friends. Marriage of alcoholics suffers due to the following:

Poor or lack of communication.
High rates of anger and distress
Failure to meet conjugal rights.
Increased marital abuse
Finance depletion due to alcohol.

Conclusion.

Treating of alcoholism in a family is usually a hard task. Treatment in most cases in not successful with the family members. They self image that they have developed as a result of living with alcoholic parents is usually hard to treat. Professionals recommend treatment approach such as family therapy and individualized treatment to help reduce the effects of alcoholism.