Rodzina z problemem alkoholowym a rozwój wzrastających w tego typu rodzinie dzieci

Abstrakt

This article discusses the issue of the consequences of a lack of close ties and not meeting needs in childhood. The most serious problem of family dysfunctionality is disrupted emotional ties. Of special significance are the neglecting of duties, neglecting of painful interpersonal conflicts within the family, lack of respect for personal boundaries, inability to express feelings, and susceptibility to emotional abuse, or physical abuse, sexual harassment. Dysfunctionality of the family system affects the development of children causing the distortions. Living in a home with alcohol problems raises anxiety, guilt and shame. In these situations, children often try to do everything to be safe, as far as it is possible. Children in families with alcohol problems often experience mixed feelings - although they are unhappy, they feel responsible for the family. One of the key issues, to which therapists dealing with persons brought up in families with alcohol problems, draw attention, is low self-esteem; it is, therefore, worthwhile to examine factors shaping low self-esteem to try to grasp the essence of this process. Children in alcoholic families develop an identity which is the source of dysfunction in their later life. This is so for two reasons. First of all, there is the lack of basis for forming self-esteem and so tendencies to create negative self-esteem. Secondly, it is because of inconsistency and distortion of self-image and blocking the development of identity by preventing experiences important to the identity from one’s consciousness - supplanting fear, anger, and jealousy. People who were raised in dysfunctional families require very often a long and painful therapy that enables them to regain contact with themselves, accept themselves and gain self-esteem. These traits constitute the basis for the ability to establish correct relations with others, to create relationships that lead to deep and authentic integration with others, maintaining and respecting at the same time one’s individuality.