4 replies to this topic

[NawlinsGirl]

First of all Im not the first born and my parent ARE NOT alcholics, so I dont know where they got their statistics from but it appears to be from a different planet..

[canovac]

I am the first born and my parents are not alcholics. I would like to see where they get there statistics from. In my opinion, there are wrong. I'm sure others would agree.

[mattsmom]

Actually this number may be correct. Firstborn children of alcoholics are classic caretakers, (we are taught to be from a young age) Statistics show we may gravitate towards nursing, teaching and other helping professions. Doesn't mean we are 'dysfunctional' necessarily, our birth homes were. We are survivors.

Impromptu surveys at work have found many of my coworkers also survived alcoholic familes.

[3boyzmom]

I don't know if I agree with the statistic regarding alcoholic parents; but I do believe that a disproportionate number of nurses come from dysfunctional families of some sort or another. That's just an observation from knowing many, many nurses over the years. As mattsmom says, these folks often tend to go into the helping professions. That's not a bad thing. I admit it, there was dysfunction in my family d/t mothers' severe depression. Just my opinion!

[mattsmom]

I don't know if I agree with the statistic regarding alcoholic parents; but I do believe that a disproportionate number of nurses come from dysfunctional families of some sort or another. That's just an observation from knowing many, many nurses over the years. As mattsmom says, these folks often tend to go into the helping professions. That's not a bad thing. I admit it, there was dysfunction in my family d/t mothers' severe depression. Just my opinion!

My Mom was severely depressed too and sadly, I inherited that genetic predisposition...and burned out last year in grand style...LOL! I'm back to work now and determined to pace myself and not get sucked into the dysfunction in our profession...which tells us we can never do enough.

We gotta take care of ourselves and our profession does not always encourage that. Learning how to say NO and resist being all things to all people has been my battle. I was the family savior and continue to try to be. Trouble is, I'm very smart and capable and so I've been programmed to help others...excessively. Its amazing how our childhood roles determine who we become.