How To Explain Alcoholism To A Child?

Robert Gerchalk

Robert is our health care professional reviewer of this website. He worked for many years in mental health and substance abuse facilities in Florida, as well as in home health (medical and psychiatric), and took care of people with medical and addictions problems at The Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. He has a nursing and business/technology degrees from The Johns Hopkins University.

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How To Explain Alcoholism To A Child?

One of the most difficult things a parent can do is to explain alcoholism to a child. It is important to be honest with your child, but you also need to be careful not to frighten them or make them feel like they are responsible for your drinking. Here are some tips on how to explain alcoholism to a child in a way that they will understand:

It is important to start by explaining what alcohol is. You can tell them that it is a drink that people consume for pleasure or to relax. You can also explain that when people drink too much alcohol, it can turn into a disease called alcoholism.

Next, you need to explain what alcoholism is. You can tell your child that it is a chronic disease that affects a person’s ability to control their drinking. Alcoholism is a progressive disease, which means that it gets worse over time. People with alcoholism cannot stop drinking on their own and they need treatment in order to recover.

It is also important to explain the symptoms of alcoholism to your child. You can tell them that people with this disease may have problems at work or school, they may lose friends, and they may end up in jail. People with alcoholism also have a higher risk of developing other health problems, such as liver disease and cancer.

Finally, you need to let your child know that it is not their fault that you have this disease. alcoholism is not caused by anything someone does or doesn’t do, and it is not their fault that you are sick. You can tell them that you love them and you will get better with treatment.