Clarksville Alcoholism Addiction Treatment
If you are a resident of Clarksville and have an addiction to alcohol, you may be placing your child in danger. Studies have indicated that alcoholic parents are much more likely to abuse their children when they are under the influence of alcohol because it can impair your judgment and make you aggressive.
If you are a parent with alcoholism, you should learn how your disease could affect the life of your child.
Alcoholism and Child Abuse
In a home where you are an alcoholic parent, whether in Clarksville, Tennessee or elsewhere in the country, the roles are often reversed and the child will start to take care of the parent. In many cases, alcoholic parents will also lose their tempers quickly, which can result in the onset of child abuse. Studies have shown that one in every four children in the United States are exposed to alcoholism in the family. This has other serious risks, such as:
- Behavioral problems
- Physical illness
- Emotional problems
- Increased likelihood of becoming alcoholics later in life
Beyond the physical abuse, your alcoholic tendencies can create many mental health problems in children, and it’s essential that you understand these effects.
Alcoholism Mentally Impacts Children in Clarksville
Here are some of the ways that you’re emotionally impacting your children with your alcohol use. Not all parental abuse needs to be physical.
- Your child may begin to feel guilty or believe they are the cause of your drinking.
- Children will develop anxiety and worry about what will happen when you drink.
- The child will become angry at the alcoholic parent and the sober parent for not taking action.
- The child will feel helpless and alone.
- Children of alcoholics will have a hard time establishing and maintaining close relationships.
As a result of the alcoholism in the home, your child will also try to hide the fact that you are an alcoholic, and that can create substantial stress. This may lead to the following actions:
- Taking extreme risks and beginning to abuse drugs or alcohol
- Having problems in school with attendance, behavior and grades
- Having social issues and few friends
- Showing aggression towards others
- Showing signs of depression and suicidal thoughts
Your alcoholism will have a serious impact on your child. Even if you are not physically abusing your child, the emotional abuse they are exposed to is equally detrimental, and the only way to prevent it 100 percent is to stop the alcohol use.
Getting Alcohol Treatment for Clarksville Alcoholics
If you are an alcoholic parent, you can get help. By calling our helpline, you can get the treatment you need to turn your life around and be a positive role model for your child. We can help Clarksville alcoholics find high-quality treatment programs all over the country.
