What normal looked like for me
As a COA, I grew up in an environment where every day was uncertain.
As a COA, I grew up in an environment where every day was uncertain.
Feeling ashamed
My dad won’t stop!
It started when mum started to find beer bottles and wine hidden all around the house.
It started when mum started to find beer bottles and wine hidden all around the house.
I didn’t tell anyone about the bottle, just kept it to myself as with everything else
I didn’t tell anyone about the bottle, just kept it to myself as with everything else.
I didn’t tell anyone about the bottle, just kept it to myself as with everything else.
The feeling of having an alcoholic parent or relative
Don’t let something like this hold you back, it is their problem not yours.
Don’t let something like this hold you back, it is their problem not yours.
How can you love the person that made you cry?
It was horrible. When she used to get up in the morning she acted as if nothing was wrong.
It was horrible. When she used to get up in the morning she acted as if nothing was wrong.
I wasn’t allowed any friends in the house nor did I have any birthday parties or go to any parties
I suffer from the shame, I suffer thinking it’s something I have done.
I suffer from the shame, I suffer thinking it’s something I have done.
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.
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.
I wanted people to understand, to know what I was going through.
