INNOCENT OR GUILTY?
Sometimes society and family will imply that you are guilty for having a parent that drinks.
FREE Helpline
0800 358 3456
Home Young People Page 16
Sometimes society and family will imply that you are guilty for having a parent that drinks.
I was left to pick up my brothers and sisters as she was asleep drunk. We would end up locked out until she woke up.
I never blamed myself for his drinking, but I always wondered how different my life would be if he didn’t drink.
‘Probably from the age of about six I knew what alcohol was.’
Sometimes I feel relief that she is gone, relief that the merry go round I was on has finally stopped and will never start again. Guilt is the main emotion that has accompanied this relief
I feel so different to other people and compare myself to my work colleagues who had a normal upbringing.
The point I want to make is that I don’t blame my dad anymore – he was ill – alcoholism is an illness.
It was horrible. When she used to get up in the morning she acted as if nothing was wrong.
I had never been aware of what was wrong with her. I had had no one to guide me or to tell me that it was not my problem or that she had one.
I still suffer to this day, I suffer from the shame, I suffer thinking it’s something I have done, it will not go away, the feeling that I was and am worthless, will stay with me for the rest of my life.
To find out more about our events and activities, subscribe to our mailing list
We use Mailchimp as our marketing platform. By subscribing, you acknowledge that your information will be transferred to Mailchimp for processing. Learn more about Mailchimp’s privacy practices.