By Alcohol abuse has increased during the coronavirus pandemic, according to the British Liver Trust, which has reported a 500% rise in calls to its helpline since lockdown began in March.
Lockdown has been tough on most people but it has been particularly hard for alcoholics deprived of the meetings so vital to their recovery.
Early on in the pandemic Alcoholics Anonymous created a network of virtual meetings and now people from all over the world who would never have met without Covid-19 are sharing their deeply personal stories and problems with each other in cyberspace.
Children of alcoholics are more likely to suffer from depression, struggle in school, and experience abuse and violence at home. Many find that they are still deeply affected by their parent’s drinking as adults, like Becky Ellis Hamilton who spoke to the BBC.
There was an unspoken rule in Becky’s family about her mother’s drinking – you didn’t mention it to anyone.
“I didn’t want to get my mum in trouble. I was afraid if anyone found out they’d take me away and I knew that my mum needed me,” Becky says. “It was my responsibility to protect her – if I hadn’t been there my grandma couldn’t have coped.”
Becky didn’t even confide in her closest friends about what was going on at home, and would only invite mates over for sleepovers on weekends when her mum was away.
“It was kind of tactical,” she says, “it was an arrangement that hadn’t been discussed, but one that suited everyone.”
Children of Alcoholics Week is a campaign to raise awareness of children affected by
parental alcohol problems. To find out more or get support visit https://coa.nacoa.org.uk
To get support please reach out and visit https://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk
