It’s Children of Alcoholics Week, one of my favorite weeks of the year!
This week, thousands of people and organizations around the world are working hard to raise awareness about how common it is for children to be living with alcoholics. In fact, it’s estimated that more than 7,500,000 children in the U.S. live in a home with a parent in need of treatment for alcohol dependency (Source: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services). According to SAMHSA, these children are at greater risk than their peers of suffering from problems such as depression and anxiety, physical health challenges and learning problems, are three times more likely to be abused, are four times more likely to be neglected and face four times the risk of developing substance abuse issues.
Let’s break the cycle.
Here’s how you can help:
Donate to the non-profit organizations that are effectively supporting, educating and saving lives such as:
- The Partnership at DrugFree.org
- National Association for Children of Alcoholics – Nacoa.org and Nacoa.org.uk
- ChildHelp USA – ChildHelp-USA.com
Educate yourself about alcoholism and share informative sites with friends and family.
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
- BreakingThe Cycles.com
- Others at: JodyLamb.com/Resources
If you are a child of an alcoholic or have/had alcoholic loved ones, please consider the following:
- Talking about it openly among your circles. How have you learned to cope? What do you wish you’d known before?
- Listening, really listening when people share their stories.
- Writing about how you’ve coped on your own blog or offering to write guest posts on established blogs.
- Posting links to helpful articles on the subject on your social media accounts.
- Attending Al-Anon meetings. There are people who need to hear your story.
- Contacting your nearest substance abuse treatment center and inquire about volunteer or speaking opportunities.
- Writing articles for your local newspaper and alert your local events calendar editor when there are substance abuse-addiction-related seminars in your community.
- If you know respected authors, musicians and athletes who can reach larger numbers of people, asking them about championing the cause.
This is near and dear to my heart – and my purpose in life.
I have a loving family in which alcoholism is a major problem. I grew up believing this was unique to my family. I’m still healing and learning from my experiences. I wrote a middle-grade novel with parental alcoholism in a leading role. It was rejected about 30 times before I found a publisher who believed in the story.
Since I began writing about my loved ones’ alcoholism and how I’ve learned to heal (and in the process, help the alcoholics in my life), I’ve had the great pleasure of hearing from kids, teens, young adults and grownups from all over the world. They share variations of the same story, of my story.
They are the most inspiring people I’ve ever met.
I am forever stunned by how widespread alcoholism is in families but hopeful that with education efforts and more people speaking out and sharing their stories, we’re beginning to break the cycles of addiction in families.
Take good care of yourself today and every day.
Hi Jody,
You have become a wonderful support for many who have been in the same situation. Children are defenseless and have to cope with whatever is present in their family. Your book for tweens is a great resource for those young people who are experiencing the alcohol abuse in their own home and I’m sure are confused and scared much of the time. I hope all of our communities can be more aware of children of alcoholics and help families break out of this negative cycle. Thank you for all the great work that you are doing!
Cathy Taughinbaugh recently posted…Hang on with Love when You Feel the Urge to Let Go
Jody,
Refreshing as ever, your posts inspire and inform. And I greatly appreciate you stressing that your life’s work–takes work. Thank you for sticking with listening to and moving from your heart.
Dr. Herby Bell! Thank you.
Thank you, Cathy. There is nothing more powerful than hearing stories from others. In college, when I finally began mentioning pieces of the effects of the alcoholism in my family to friends, I was absolutely stunned when they responded (with the same kind of shame) with similar stories from their own families (families I had perceived to be too “perfect” for such problems). It was shocking and relieving in a life-changing way. I was an adult. Imagine how powerful the I’m-not-alone realization is for children! I have the same hope that schools and organizations will put education programs into place or at the very least, make books on the subject available to kids. Thank YOU for the great work you do, Cathy.
Wow, Jody. I am so glad you are called to help those children in the same situation as you were once in – which unfortunately is lots and lots of kids! I know you have and will help so many! I love the video as this medium does appeal to the age of the audience you are trying to reach. I will definitely help you spread the word!!
Hi Jody,
Your collection of articles about dealing with life as an adult child of an alcoholic is fabulous! How I wish I would have been brave enough in my early 30s to speak out. Of course, I was just entering my own recovery for alcoholism in 1991, and had much to learn before I could even consider address my family’s history of alcoholism.
How wonderful that you are an advocate for children. I believe we are all called to a certain mission in life; it’s very cool that you’ve found your place!
You have my support and perpetual encouragement.
All the best to you!
Beth Wilson recently posted…How Do You Find Balance?
Jody – children of alcoholics everywhere are so fortunate to have you as their advocate. You do an incredible job of sharing your own experiences in a way they can see their own stories and through that get the understanding they need to know, “it’s not their fault!” I love your work and share it with those who contact me about how to talk to their children all the time. [And thank you for including BreakingTheCycles.com in your reference list :)!]
Lisa Frederiksen – BreakingTheCycles.com recently posted…Face of Recovery | Maggie Ellwood
Hey Jody!
Thanks for the buckets of resources. A kid trying to give it a go in an “alcoholic home.” Kind of gives me a lump in my throat. Just ain’t fair. I’m so glad you freely share your personal experience, transitioning to being that “happy grownup.” May the same happen for the millions who find themselves in one tough spot. Take care, k?
Bill
Bill White, Licensed Counselor recently posted…And the Rest is History (It’s Time for a Comeback)
Thank you so much, Lisa. I adore BreakingTheCyles so much – it’s exactly the resource I wish I’d had when I began this journey of understanding addiction 10 years ago.
Thank you, as always, Bill!
Thank you, Beth! You’re doing so much good today. Thank you!!
I appreciate your encouragement as always, Leslie!
Hi, I am so happy I came across this. That video was so encouraging to me, I feel like I can relate a lot. I am now 24 and have been very affected every day by my alcoholic dad. You hit the hammer right on the nail about how it makes you feel and starving for attention. I’m so sorry your life has been difficult like mine. You sure seem like you have come so far in your research and you have a beautiful sincere smile. Thank you so much for sharing!
Karissa doty recently posted…10 great ways to calm down