Article: You may want to take care of your parent or take away their means of consuming alcohol. However, hiding the alcohol or pouring it down the drain can often anger the person and make situations worse. Do not blame yourself for your parent's drinking; it is not your fault and you did not cause them to drink. You did not cause your parent's drinking problem and you cannot solve it for them. You may experience many complex emotions around your parent and their drinking problem. You may struggle with feeling love, frustration, anger, hopelessness, or helplessness. You may love your parent but hate their drinking problem. You are not the only person who struggles with conflicting emotions, and you are not alone in your struggles. Journal your feelings about your parent. You may wish to write a letter to your parent detailing how their drinking affects you and what emotions you feel. You may want to write the letter and process your feelings, then decide not to send it. Find healthy ways to cope with stress through adulthood. Instead of turning to drugs, alcohol, sleeping, or bingeing on food or television, find healthy outlets for your stress. Use exercise to get your body moving and relieve stress, such as dancing, going to the gym, or taking a hike. Spend time with friends by having a game night or going bowling. Do things that make you feel good and that are good for you. Have activities that you enjoy that you do regularly. This can include engaging a hobby, starting a yoga practice, or reading a book. Make time for yourself. Do some meditation, go for a daily walk, or savor a cup of tea in the morning. Take a break to help you put things in perspective. It's difficult to cope with the lifestyle and resulting feelings of having an alcoholic parent. Don't feel like you have to keep it all to yourself. Sharing your feelings and frustrations can help you feel better and not so alone. Find a friend who is willing to listen to you and approach the situation nonjudgmentally. Confide in a sibling or close friend. It's okay to talk to someone and it doesn't mean you're being disloyal to your parent. Some adult children have difficulty engaging in intimate relationships and may tend to shy away. Interpersonal relationships may difficult due to a need for approval or low self-esteem. Having intimate relationships is an important part of connecting with others and creating meaningful relationships. Friendships contribute to overall happiness and stress reduction and can offer support when you need it. If you have difficulty meeting friends, try volunteering. It's a great way to meet people with similar interests as you and can provide an environment to meet people and get to know one another.
What is a summary of what this article is about?
Put away your sense of responsibility. Accept your feelings as normal. Practice healthy coping for stress. Confide in someone. Engage in meaningful relationships.