Today, we are going to discuss the interrelation between Children of Alcoholic Parents and Narcissistic behavior.
Adult Children of Alcoholics refers to individuals who have grown up in a dysfunctional household as a result of their caretakers's alcoholism. Adult Children of Alcoholics find they often carry common characteristics into adulthood as the result of their childhood and upbringing, often including alcohol or drug abuse themselves.
There are many overlapping symptoms including:
Lying when it would be just as easy to tell the truth;
Having difficulty with intimate relationships including more than one failed marriage;
Overreacting to situations in their daily lives;
Constantly seeking approval and affirmation often through self aggrandizement.
While narcissistic behavior is not a direct result of having one or more parents that were alcoholics, the prevailing symptoms often are exaccerbated by the condition.
Next week, we will discuss the causes and treatment of these mental illnesses.
Dr. Lucy Van Pelt
