Not everyone can say they have the best father in the world. Father’s Day is the one day a year that people are encouraged to acknowledge and appreciate their dads, but if you grew up in an alcoholic or otherwise dysfunctional home, the thought of honoring your father in any way, or even the thought …
How Adult Children of Alcoholics Can Embrace Father’s Day Read More »
Flowers are nice. Jewelry is generally appreciated. Going out to dinner is a popular favorite. But when it comes to giving Mom a gift she’ll remember long after the flowers are wilted, the jewelry is carefully stored and the meal is something of the past, many sons and daughters might consider a loving gift instead. …
5 Top Gifts for Mom This Mother’s Day to Make Her Feel Truly Loved Read More »
Her father’s despair seeped into every waking moment, poisoning the family. By age 5, Christal Presley routinely barricaded her dresser against her bedroom door. He could go from fetal position to fury. “I’m going to the river, and I won’t be back!” he would yell, grabbing a gun. “For the first two years of that, …
In families with a significant track record of substance addiction, parents face additional challenges when it comes to educating their children about drugs and alcohol. But by warning young people about their family history of addiction, is it possible to actually increase their risk of substance abuse? Many studies over the years have confirmed that …
How to Talk to Children About Addiction in the Family Read More »
Adult children of alcoholics are people who grew up in a household with at least one parent affected by alcoholism. A significant minority of all U.S. adults come from such a background. In a study published in January 2014 in the journal Addictive Behaviors, a team of American researchers assessed the chances that young adult …
Children of Alcoholics Choose Alcohol Abusers as Partners Read More »
If there is one thing that is more challenging than having the disease of addiction, it is watching a family member struggle with it. Whether it is your spouse, your child, a sibling or a parent who is an addict, the situation can make you feel utterly lost and helpless. There may be times when …
The links between alcoholism, genetics and family history are not easy to understand. What we know for sure, though, is that there is a connection. This does not mean that if you had an alcoholic parent, or if both of your parents suffered from alcoholism, that you are destined to become one as well. It …
Researchers and mental health professionals have known for a long time that men and boys have elevated chances of dying from suicide, even though they make suicide attempts far less often than women and girls. Researchers and doctors have also identified many of the risk factors that increase the likelihood of suicide. According to the …
Family History, Childhood Trauma Increase Suicide Risk for Men Read More »
Perhaps the most difficult aspect of repairing a relationship with a recovering addict is rebuilding trust. It can take just one or two incidents to lose trust, but many, many more to regain it. After all your experiences with this person when he was using, whether it is your spouse, a friend, or a sibling, …
Can you Trust a Recovering Addict with your Kids? Read More »
Children who have experienced abuse and maltreatment show changes in important parts of their brains. These changes are linked to depression, drug addiction, schizophrenia and other mental health problems, according to a new study from Harvard University.