Alcoholism

By Kristy BucyArgosy University

PSY 492December 13, 2010

Alcohol Abuse

• Is easily accessible• No one is exempt from becoming an alcoholic• No age limit• Affects everyone in the family• Affects can go unknown for a very long time• Most deny they are alcoholics• Have trouble finding strength to quit

Life Threatening

Family Loss

• Entire families are affected by one of them having an addiction to alcohol.

• Innocent people die in a heart beat• Many that you love may be harmed• Causes many illness to the alcoholic

Children of Alcoholics

• Are left to care for them selves• To care for other siblings• To care for the alcoholic parent• Learn to take advantage of the alcoholic

parent at opportunist moments• Have nightmares• Trouble with bed wetting• May get into trouble• Grades drop in school

Children of Alcoholics

• May become obsessed or perfectionists• Don’t make friends easily- have few friends• Home stress prevents homework to be done • Tend to repeat grades • Higher drop out rate• Less likely to attend college

Affects to unborn Children

• Low birth weight• Brain damage• Learning disabilities• Fetal alcohol syndrome• Miscarriage

Spouse of Alcoholics

• May enable the alcoholic to continue• Feel self pity• Hatred of spouse• Avoid social events• Suffer from exhaustion• Become physically or mentally ill• Spend a lot of time trying to get them to quit• May divorce spouse

The alcoholic

• May be in denial• Codependent• May be sober for a period of time giving a

false sense of hope to family• Have destructive behaviors• Feel guilty but can not change• Have health problems