Effect of Addiction on Children - Factors that Contribute to the Severity

1. Effect of Addiction on Children - Factors that Contribute to the Severity Children are often referred to as the forgotten victims of addiction. These vulnerable individuals can struggle in a number of ways if they are living with a parent who has an active addiction. Younger children who do not understand the illness their parent is suffering from may experience feelings of confusion, fear, guilt, loneliness and anxiety. Older children may have some idea of what is going on and might experience the same feelings coupled with shame, embarrassment and helplessness. While some children of addictive parents may continue to function quite well, others will fall behind in their school work or might be unable to develop friendships because they fear others will find out their secret. The extent of the effect addiction has on a child will depend on a number of factors, including: 1. Whether one or both parents were addicted. In most instances, children are affected more severely if their mother is the addict (because she is often the primary carer). Inevitably, they are also affected more profoundly if both parents are suffering from 2. The severity of the symptoms of their parents’ addiction. It goes without saying that the more severe the symptoms, the greater the effect it will have on the child. 3. If there was another carer present. Children with access to another carer, such as a grandparent or aunt, for example, tend to cope better with a parent’s addiction. Being cared for by another adult means they will not suffer from loneliness or helplessness, and they may be able to develop their coping skills and sense of worth. 4. The age of the child when addiction became a problem. The younger the child, the greater the impact. This is also the case for children who have been living with an addicted parent for a long time. Older children tend to be well settled and may not be as severely affected as a young child who has been neglected by a parent with addiction issues. 5. Strength of the family unit. Some families manage to stick together despite one parent having an addiction. If the non-addicted parent is strong enough to hold the family together, the children will not be as significantly However, if the non-addicted parent finds it difficult to deal with this situation, he or she may also neglect the needs of the child, which could lead to lasting emotional problems.

2. 6. Support given to the child. Young children are often left as innocent bystanders who witness the destruction their parent’s addiction is causing. Nonetheless, this leads to confusion and many children blame themselves for the actions of their parent. But when children are dealt with openly and honestly, and when they are given emotional support, they tend to deal with the addiction much more effectively. 7. Did the child suffer abuse? Unfortunately, some addicts become violent or aggressive while under the influence of certain substances, and children often become targets for their aggression. If an addictive parent abuses a child, then that child is much more likely to develop lasting emotional problems. One of the biggest problems with this abuse is that it often occurs when the parent is intoxicated, and they may be unable to remember it because of blackouts. The child may not speak out about this abuse for many years and, during that time, will be dealing with various emotional problems. 8. Were there financial problems?If a parent’s addiction leads to financial struggles, this can affect the child going forward. Dealing with the effects of addiction coupled with a lack of financial security can be devastating for children, and it can affect them for years to come. This article originally published at Middlegate.co.uk Blog here https://www.middlegate.co.uk/effect-of-addiction-on-children-factors-that-contribute-to-the-severity/