Children under the Influence

" An alcoholic family is not a healthy place to grow up in. It is a strange place where very little is as it seems. Emotions fluctuate in a topsy-turvy merry go round. Some days are filled with sadness and loneliness, others are filled with fear as fights erupt between parents, or between child and parent. Then there are days of sentimentality and remorse as the guilty parent tries to make up for all the emotional bruising that goes on. Manipulation and emotional blackmail are everyday occurrences. Worry about the future, protectiveness and shame become the musical score as the family does its deadly dance of keeping the system running. ... few people really understand the insanity of it all." (p. 121) This book explains the specific damage that occurs to members of a family damaged by an alcoholic parent. It also attempts to be a source of guidance and advice and hope for those living in that situation or recovering from it. "Children Under the Influence" is a useful and compassionate resource for anyone who wants to better understand how alcoholism affects families, and more importantly how to help people recover.