View Poll Results: Were your parents alcoholics?
No
132
32.67%
Yes, my mother was an alcoholic
48
11.88%
Yes, my father was an alcoholc
132
32.67%
Yes, both my mother and father were alcoholics
79
19.55%
I don't know
13
3.22%
Voters: 404. You may not vote on this poll
Were your parents alcoholics?
I was reading an article only the other day about a girl who refuses to have a child in case they inherit her alcoholism. I thought never crossed my mind when I had a family. My dad was a real heavy drinker and my mum insists he is an alcoholic although he rarely drinks now because of strokes. I wonder if it is really inherited. I don't really know the ins and outs.
My Dad was . Got hit by a car 20 years ago almost died.
My maternal grandpa
Both his brothers
Both my sisters
2 of my brothers
Skipped a generation on my mothers side , none of those 4 children drank.
My maternal grandpa
Both his brothers
Both my sisters
2 of my brothers
Skipped a generation on my mothers side , none of those 4 children drank.
Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 341
Both parents were, both died too early of cancer.
All grandparents were, maternal grandmother had about 35 years of recovery before relapsing, which killed her within months (diabetic).
Brother was alcoholic (died in drinking related crash)
Alcohol has caused chaos, heartbreak, and death in my family for many years.
All grandparents were, maternal grandmother had about 35 years of recovery before relapsing, which killed her within months (diabetic).
Brother was alcoholic (died in drinking related crash)
Alcohol has caused chaos, heartbreak, and death in my family for many years.
Member
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: California
Posts: 3
Neither. As a kid my mom had one drink, maybe two, a few nights a week. Same with my dad. There were occasions where I'd know that he'd had a bit more than that, as he'd be exceptionally loving/affectionate/gleeful. I never once (really, not ONCE!) witnessed them out of control. They still drink socially without a problem.
I guess I sort of developed my own twisted relationship with alcohol along the way. Hard to understand where it comes from sometimes though...
I guess I sort of developed my own twisted relationship with alcohol along the way. Hard to understand where it comes from sometimes though...
I'm from a family of alcoholics on both my mother's and father's side. Most of the family gatherings I remember were real slosh fests. It was seldom discussed but from what I can remember, I am related to:
2 alcoholic great grandfathers that I know of
2 alcoholic grandfathers
Alcoholic grandmother, mother's side, died of congestive heart failure
Alcoholic aunt, father's side, died of cirrhosis of liver
Alcoholic father, died of lung cancer
Alcoholic mother, died of kidney and liver failure
Alcoholic brother, died of throat and lung cancer
Alcoholic brother-in-law, still "living"
So, I think I came by my "drinking problem" honestly.
2 alcoholic great grandfathers that I know of
2 alcoholic grandfathers
Alcoholic grandmother, mother's side, died of congestive heart failure
Alcoholic aunt, father's side, died of cirrhosis of liver
Alcoholic father, died of lung cancer
Alcoholic mother, died of kidney and liver failure
Alcoholic brother, died of throat and lung cancer
Alcoholic brother-in-law, still "living"
So, I think I came by my "drinking problem" honestly.
My dad was an alcoholic. Now recovered for 30 years. Almost all of the relatives on my dad's side of the family (aunts, uncles, cousins) drank a lot. Almost no one on my mom's side drank at all, although I do remember her father (my grandpa) having an occasional beer.
Father: high functioning alcoholic
Uncle: alcoholic & drug addict
Grandfather: prescription drug addict
First Cousin: alcoholic & gambler
Mom: co-de
Grandmother: co-de/enabler
Lucky me I got the co-de & alcoholic combo.
Uncle: alcoholic & drug addict
Grandfather: prescription drug addict
First Cousin: alcoholic & gambler
Mom: co-de
Grandmother: co-de/enabler
Lucky me I got the co-de & alcoholic combo.
Member
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Vashon WA
Posts: 1,035
No one ever gets labeled an alcoholic in my family unless they were way off in the deep end and dead. Perhaps this is why I have such a hard time recognizing and labeling alcoholics, except for myself.
Member
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Scotland
Posts: 1,490
This has been an interesting thread for me. Neither my mum or dad were alcoholic, but at least one of my uncle's was. My mum and dad said that they both had got drunk once each and then never got drunk ever again.
Alcohol was not drunk very often in our house when we were growing up; mainly just a couple of glasses of wine at Christmas.
I do recall, though, my dad giving me a large glass of port when I passed my exams at school (all straight A's)!
When I left home (aged 17) to go to university, I kind of went a bit 'crazy' with the freedom and very few drinks from then on were without the deliberate intention of getting drunk. Having said that, I still had a very long 'honeymoon' period and really only sunk to extreme depths of alcoholism in the last few years (and I'm nearly 40 now).
Sorry, I seem to be rambling on about my story....
Back to usual business now!
Alcohol was not drunk very often in our house when we were growing up; mainly just a couple of glasses of wine at Christmas.
I do recall, though, my dad giving me a large glass of port when I passed my exams at school (all straight A's)!
When I left home (aged 17) to go to university, I kind of went a bit 'crazy' with the freedom and very few drinks from then on were without the deliberate intention of getting drunk. Having said that, I still had a very long 'honeymoon' period and really only sunk to extreme depths of alcoholism in the last few years (and I'm nearly 40 now).
Sorry, I seem to be rambling on about my story....
Back to usual business now!
Member
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Edinburgh
Posts: 73
My dad is. He's been clean for a couple of years, but I've seen him drinking daily. It should have been a warning sign, he used to say he saw a lot of his drinking habits in me. He used to frighten me when he was drunk- never violent, but verbally he was vile. One time when I was living with him about 6 years ago I cooked him dinner whilst he was sober. About 4 hours later he was drunk and I cooked myself something- he forgot I had made him something already and thought I was taking the **** so he snatched the plate and through it out the (8th floor) window. I left rather quickly after that to get out and, well, go drink myself.
Now my housemate says I frighten her when drunk. Thats a harsh thing because I dont want to become my dad, but I fear its already at that stage.
Now my housemate says I frighten her when drunk. Thats a harsh thing because I dont want to become my dad, but I fear its already at that stage.
Member
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Scotland
Posts: 1,490
Currently Active Users Viewing this Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)