Unfortunately, my Dad was an alcoholic and died at the early age of 49.
I am writing this today as this article might help people who have had this problem in their life which has severely impacted their emotional stability.
My dad had many accidents with cars, other things, was a womanizer, hit my Mom, was embarressing to me in front of my freinds as he fell asleep on the porch drunk all the time and all this totally messed me up as a teenager and adult. He never taught me how to cope with problems, the way to cope was to drink, plus it was a reward for whatever hard work you think you did. So, I became an alcoholic at the age of 36. He taught me how to cope, just drink.
He died when I was just 16 and of course, my mother was so dysfunctional by that time, I was blamed for his heart attack(more insanity). This caused me to become agoraphobic and of course the panic disorder showed its ugly head.
I had some therapy in the 1960's but well, all shrinks told me that I would grow out of it, yep, alcohol helped me in my late 20's and throughout my 30's. My dad taught me that.
Somehow, I managed to get sober just with AA when I was 40 and forgive my father for his problems and my mother blaming me for his death. But as you know dysfunction lies deep.
I married men that were just like my dad, very controling to say the least. I married my dad really as I really loved him and wanted someone just like him(in my mind).
My dad only did about half a dozen things with me till the time he died. He and I took walks in the woods, we went to Coney Island and he sat me on bars. He taught me how to cope with lifes problems, just drink.
Today, I have 17 years sober but unfortunately, my mother did not go for help and continued the problem by enabling my son and daughter to drink and BLAME other people for problems. I stand alone now, sober, without my 16 and 23 year old son, happy to be alive.
