Stories from young people
Are you maybe feeling alone? Relax. Because you aren’t.
There are lots of young people who grow up in families with substance abuse issues, and they notice the effects that this has on their everyday lives.
On this page, you can read real-world stories. Read other people’s experiences growing up with substance abuse in their families, and see how they dealt with those problems to make it to the other side.
Amanda: "At TUBA, there was room for me and everything I am"
Sara: "I felt guilty about my dad drinking"
Mark: "I was always afraid I would make my dad angry"
Liv: "For the first time, I feel at ease"
Karen: "I hid my feelings far away"
Tommi: "I used to put myself in stupid situations"
Julie: "I felt so alone"
Rikke: "I learned that I'm not wrong"
Kaare: "I thought the problems would die together with my dad"
Trine: "I've learned to accept myself"
Sound familiar?
If you’ve grown up in a family with alcohol or substance abuse issues, you might often feel alone and insecure relative to other people. This is true for many people in that situation, and typical problems include:
- being afraid of how others will perceive you.
- forgetting your own needs
- self-criticism getting out of control
- feeling like it’s hard to speak out
- feeling like life is confusing and impossible
- having a hard time building close relationships with others
- feeling alone frequently
- having frequent self-esteem problems
You might feel like you’re responsible for your parents drinking. That can make you want to check whether your mom or dad has been drinking. That’s completely normal. Have you maybe tried adding water to the bottles, so they don’t get so drunk? Have you maybe found bottles in the laundry basket or the bathroom and thrown them away? Do you maybe cancel plans with friends because you’d rather stay home to make sure your mom and dad don’t drink? Or maybe you’re just angry at your parents, so you try to avoid them.
Regardless of the effect your parents’ substance abuse has on you, it does have an effect on you. You have the right to a more satisfying life, even though your parents have problems.
If some of the things you’ve just read sound familiar, coming to TUBA or using our chat counseling might make you happier. You can find your nearest branch or read more about the chat by clicking this button.