The alcoholism and the madness left little room for me to grow up safely
“Don’t trust, don’t talk, don’t feel,” these are the rules of a dysfunctional family.
“Don’t trust, don’t talk, don’t feel,” these are the rules of a dysfunctional family.
Experience of abuse
It felt as though our family had a shameful secret that couldn’t be discussed
I wanted people to understand, to know what I was going through, but no one understands unless they’ve experienced it themselves and I was too messed up to let people get close.
I wanted people to understand, to know what I was going through, but no one understands unless they’ve experienced it themselves and I was too messed up to let people get close.
Working it out: The effects of living with alcoholism
Why do I SAY ‘Yes’, when I mean to say ‘no’?
Why do I SAY ‘Yes’, when I mean to say ‘no’?
I felt like I was made up of pieces from other people
I have had the courage to heal the sickness inside me. To rid myself of the shame and blame and guilt that was never mine anyway.
I have had the courage to heal the sickness inside me. To rid myself of the shame and blame and guilt that was never mine anyway.
You Are Not Alone
I would like to say to anyone who finds themselves in the situation that I was in, that there is hope.
I would like to say to anyone who finds themselves in the situation that I was in, that there is hope.
From the outside it was a life that many people would envy but my strongest childhood memory is one of fear.
It’s vital that we take away the shame from the illness of alcoholism, so that people aren’t frightened to come forward and ask for help.
It’s vital that we take away the shame from the illness of alcoholism, so that people aren’t frightened to come forward and ask for help.
Safe as houses: No one hits you, yells at you. But there is a great secret, betrayed only by the knowing looks of others
But you will keep the secret to yourself that isn’t even a secret.. You don’t talk about it, you don’t talk about yourself, you don’t talk about your family, you keep your hopes and dreams to yourself but you don’t know why.
But you will keep the secret to yourself that isn’t even a secret.. You don’t talk about it, you don’t talk about yourself, you don’t talk about your family, you keep your hopes and dreams to yourself but you don’t know why.
The Two Mothers
I am haunted by the idea that the telling of these dark truths is an unwarranted betrayal of my mother.
I am haunted by the idea that the telling of these dark truths is an unwarranted betrayal of my mother.
Crying inside, nowhere to go
The fight to stay sane is sometimes so difficult there were, and are, times when I wonder if it was all worth it.
The fight to stay sane is sometimes so difficult there were, and are, times when I wonder if it was all worth it.
My name is Mandeep. I am 38-years-old and my father was an alcoholic
I had three daddies. ‘Nice daddy’, ‘funny daddy’ who was just slightly drunk, and then of course ‘nasty daddy’.
I had three daddies. ‘Nice daddy’, ‘funny daddy’ who was just slightly drunk, and then of course ‘nasty daddy’.
