According to the World Health Organization, nearly 7% of the world’s population struggles with an alcohol use disorder. Unfortunately, this means that some children have parents who struggle with alcoholism. Inevitably, a child being raised by someone with a drinking problem can negatively impact a child and cause them to develop certain personality traits. In many cases, these traits can broadly be defined by five personality types of children of alcoholics.
If you are dealing with the impacts of alcohol addiction in your family, The Bridge to Recovery can help. We are a leading mental health workshop that helps individuals heal from family-of-origin trauma and transform their lives. Whether you are struggling with anxiety, depression, or another mental health struggle, help is available. Our mental health program offers a unique approach to working through trauma for healing.. Contact us today to learn more about how we can support your journey.
5 Personality Types of Children of Alcoholics
Growing up with parents who struggle with alcoholism can impact a child’s development and personality. Some children might feel they need to be perfect to get their parent’s attention, while other children may act out to cope with parents who struggle with alcohol addiction.
Often, the trauma you experienced as a child, such as parental neglect from alcoholic parents, can stay with you into adulthood. This is why it’s critical to understand how you may have been impacted as a child by being raised by alcoholics. Below are five personality types of children of alcoholics that can help you better understand how your upbringing may have impacted your personality as an adult.
The Hero
The first personality type of children of alcoholics is “the hero.” This personality type feels the need to be an overachiever or a perfectionist in hopes of feeling in control of their life despite being raised by alcoholics. This personality feels like as long as they can overperform at school, work, or extracurriculars, they’ll feel a sense of control. However, this can lead to unhealthy perfectionist tendencies as you go into adulthood.
The Scapegoat
Another personality trait is “the scapegoat,” which is when the children of alcoholics receive the blame for their parent’s addiction. Unfortunately, these children are blamed and made to feel less than because of their parent’s addiction, even though they have no control over their parents’ addictions. This can lead to a child growing up and struggling with low self-worth and self-esteem because they were blamed and belittled for their parent’s addiction.
The Lost Child
The next personality trait is “the lost child,” which is when a child feels neglected and alone because of their parent’s addiction. They may grow up and resent their parents and feel like they are all alone because their parents spend more time and energy on fueling their addiction, rather than nurturing their relationships with their child.
The Mascot
Another personality trait is “the mascot” which is when an individual tries to use humor or be silly in hopes of uplifting the mood and reducing feelings of discomfort that come from being raised by alcoholics. This personality trait may resort to playfulness or humor to try and defuse the reality that they were raised by parents who struggled with alcohol addiction.
The Caretaker
The last personality type is “the caretaker,” which is when a child tries to help their alcoholic parent. For example, a child may feel the need to make excuses or lie to cover up their parent’s drinking problems.
Support Is Available
Now you know more about the five personality types of children of alcoholics. From the hero who tries to “fix” their family to the scapegoat who acts out due to the emotional pain they experience witnessing their parents struggle with alcoholism; children of alcoholics can develop various personality traits. If you or someone you know is struggling with the effects of addiction, professional help is available to support.
At The Bridge to Recovery, our compassionate team of mental health professionals is here to help you heal and improve your overall mental health. We specialize in helping individuals navigate family-of-origin trauma in a supportive environment. Whether you are struggling with unresolved trauma, depression, or another mental disorder, we offer a safe space to work through your experiences and find healing. Contact us today to learn more about how we can support your recovery.