You might struggle to believe in your partner’s commitment or worry they’ll suddenly change their mind about you. As a child, you might have learned to pick up on small signs—like a change in your parent’s tone of voice or a subtle shift in their body language. I send a newsletter every couple of weeks—short personal stories, practical insights, and the kind of honest encouragement I wish I’d had when I started figuring this out. Just real talk about health, happiness, and learning to take good care of yourself. Potentially successful approaches include trauma-informed therapy (such as EMDR, CBT, and DBT) and brain-health evaluation (including SPECT scans and lifestyle changes).

What age is most affected by alcoholism?

Many struggle with a deep-seated fear or resentment of those in positions of power. This stems from their experiences with unpredictable or abusive parental authority during childhood. Many ACOAs find themselves attracted to partners who exhibit similar behaviors to their alcoholic parent, perpetuating familiar but unhealthy relationship dynamics. Adult children of alcoholics will do anything to save a relationship, rather than face the pain of abandonment even if the relationship is unhealthy.

This phenomenon, characterized by specific traits and characteristics, is what defines the adult children of alcoholics, commonly referred to as ACoA or ACA. Research shows that children of alcoholics have a higher risk of developing substance abuse. This increased risk is thought to be due to genetic and environmental factors. Children of alcoholics may inherit genes that make them more prone to alcohol use disorder and may also learn behaviours that make them more likely to abuse alcohol.

Have Questions?

For dimensional scores, we used Q-correlations, which reflect the correlation or “match” between each patient’s 200-item profile and the empirically generated 200-item Q-factor profiles. We created categorical subgroup diagnoses by assigning patients to the group for which they had the highest Q-correlation (similar to a factor loading) ≥ .40. For virtual sessions, the Acoa Discussion Questions worksheet can be easily shared via screen sharing. The therapist can type the client’s answers in real-time, which can be validating for the client to see their words written down.

• Judgmental behavior may also stem from a lack of empathy, which could be a defense mechanism developed in response to their childhood experiences.
• This disarray in emotional regulation not only jeopardizes their mental health but can also strain personal and professional relationships.
• For example, if an ACOA is talking about childhood vacations and traveling with a group of people who all traveled a lot as kids, the individual may fear what others would think if they do not fit in.
• This integrates somatic awareness with the cognitive work of the worksheet.

FAQ About Common Traits of Adult Children of Alcoholics

As previously noted, however, the research literature does not indicate that COA’s as a group show significant personality deviance. Moreover, even in the absence of significant comorbidity, considerable differences (i.e., heterogeneity) exist among alcoholics. As demonstrated by Winokur and colleagues (1971), parental characteristics above and beyond alcoholism are important determinants of features observed in the alcoholics’ offspring. A second constituency studying COA’s is the research community, which is seeking to understand the causes of alcoholism. COA’s are at substantially increased risk for becoming alcoholic themselves, and this elevated risk appears to be a function of both genetic and environmental factors (Heath 1995; see also the article by McGue, pp. 210–217). By identifying characteristics that distinguish COA’s from children of non-alcoholics (non-COA’s), researchers hope to identify variables that might be important in the etiology of alcoholism.

Isolating or Feeling Lonely

With therapy and support, ACOAs can make changes in their life and treat the underlying PTSD and trauma. Talk therapy one-on-one or group counseling, somatic experiencing, and EMDR are highly effective in addressing the signs of trauma and developing new, healthy coping mechanisms. Their problems distract the family from the alcoholic’s problems and behaviors.

Parents’ alcohol misuse can affect their children’s mental aptitude as well as their ability to cope or thrive in social settings. Studies show that children of parents with alcohol addiction carry an increased risk of anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, behavioural disorders, and antisocial behaviour. Growing up with alcoholic parents can bring a lot of trauma, and ACOAs often require professional help to find true and lasting recovery. The Canadian Centre for Addictions offers sophisticated therapy and resources to help you address underlying trauma and navigate the path to an emotionally balanced and healthy life. The results corroborate previous research suggesting that COAs are not a homogeneous group. Rather, in both studies we found five distinct personality patterns in adolescent and adult COAs, four of which showed strong similarities across the two age-groups.

• Research shows that the emotional effects of trauma can influence mental health and relationships well into adulthood.
• They can be in denial, develop poor coping strategies, have an inability to problem solve and form dysfunctional relationships.
• They may find themselves attracted to alcoholics or other compulsive personalities, or form relationships with people who need to be rescued, neglecting their own needs.

These children grew up in dysfunctional households where unpredictability, uncertainty, and chaos were the norm. Types of Alcoholics They were more likely to be subjected to neglect, violence, arguments, fear, and abuse. Often they did not receive the emotional support and connection they needed at crucial stages in their development.

Understanding ACOA

Substance abuse can be seen as a secondary effect to the primary diagnosis of a PD. The presence of certain maladaptive personality traits may play a role in the development of substance use disorders, concluding that personality traits are developmental antecedents of alcoholism. At an addiction treatment and recovery center, you’ll find a wealth of programs, including outpatient services, detox programs, and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), designed to help you heal and improve your mental health. Family therapy can provide an opportunity to connect with your parent on neutral territory, allowing you to work through your challenges together.

• This can result in overreactions to minor relationship conflicts or an overwhelming fear of abandonment.
• Many ACOAs discover that their challenging backgrounds have equipped them with exceptional resilience, empathy, and insight.
• Although heterogeneity of parental alcoholism is one key class of variables that must be recognized, numerous other domains need to be considered when evaluating the relation of parental alcoholism to offspring outcomes.
• Growing up in a house where a parent misuses alcohol often exposes children to unpredictable circumstances.
• COAs suffer from direct physical, verbal, emotional, and sexual abuse from their alcoholic parent.

Understanding ACOA Personality Types: Healing from the Impact of Alcoholism

When it happens in the workplace, it can create distrust or can even lead to the loss of a job. If you recognize yourself in these descriptions, know that you are not alone. Your experiences, while difficult, have shaped you into a unique and valuable individual. Consider reaching out to a therapist, joining a support group, or exploring resources specifically designed for ACOAs. Remember, seeking help is not a sign of weakness, but a courageous step towards a healthier, happier life.