"I am still grieving my childhood" - Loss and grief of children raised in families with addiction following the death of the parent.

Abstract

The aim of our study presented in this paper is to explore the experiences of loss among children raised in families affected by addiction and the grieving process following the parent's death. Our empirical research analyzed written accounts from Hungarian individuals using qualitative psychological methods. The participants had parents affected by alcoholism, have lost one or both parents, and at least two years have passed since the bereavement. We conducted a thematic analysis of 78 written narratives, from which the study's findings emerged. Our research indicates that processing childhood losses-collectively referred to as a "lost childhood"-involves a much more intense grieving process than the death of the parent itself. Our findings highlight the importance of early intervention and support for children in families affected by addiction, and the need for guidance during the grieving process after losing a parent.