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Free Online Support Groups for Adult Children of Alcoholics

Growing up in a home with an alcoholic parent shapes how you read rooms, hold relationships, and ask for what you need long after childhood. A free online support group for adult children of alcoholics gives you a place to talk with peers who already know that dynamic from the inside.

Live groups available daily.

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Shine on you crazy diamond!

Sun, Jun 14 | 1:00PM - 2:30PM UTC

Do you deal with addictions? Be it a SUD or an AUD you are welcome, no matter your DOC we are not here to judge. Do you deal with mental health? Be it depression, anxiety, BPD or anything under the umbrella you are welcome here. This is a judgement free zone to come and talk about your struggles and hardships, it's also a place to talk about your accomplishments. I look forward to seeing you all.

Attendees

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Upcoming Groups

Dom_F

Shine on you crazy diamond!

Anyone and everyone, nothing is too small to bring up

Alcoholism

General mental health

Substance abuse

1/16

Sun, 6/21, 8:00 PM • 90 min

Dom_F

Shine on you crazy diamond!

Anyone and everyone, nothing is too small to bring up

Alcoholism

General mental health

Substance abuse

1/16

Sun, 6/28, 8:00 PM • 90 min

Dom_F

Shine on you crazy diamond!

Anyone and everyone, nothing is too small to bring up

Alcoholism

General mental health

Substance abuse

1/16

Sun, 7/5, 8:00 PM • 90 min

Dom_F

Shine on you crazy diamond!

Anyone and everyone, nothing is too small to bring up

Alcoholism

General mental health

Substance abuse

1/16

Sun, 7/12, 8:00 PM • 90 min

Topic context

Understanding adult children of alcoholics

Alcoholism affects people from all walks of life, and breaking free from it can be one of the hardest journeys a person undertakes. Feelings of shame, fear of judgment, and isolation are common among those struggling with or recovering from alcohol use disorder. Peer support groups offer a compassionate, non-judgmental space where individuals can share openly, build accountability, and find strength in others who’ve walked the same path. These connections can reinforce recovery goals and help individuals feel less alone as they work toward sobriety.

Why it helps

How peer support helps with adult children of alcoholics

Peer support helps adult children of alcoholics because the patterns you developed as a child to survive often keep running in adulthood, even when they no longer serve you. A group of peers can help you name those patterns, recognize them in real time, and slowly build something different. The point is not blame; it is understanding.

Inside the room

What adult children of alcoholics groups often cover

The roles many ACOAs played growing up: hero, scapegoat, lost child, mascot, caretaker
Hypervigilance, people-pleasing, and conflict avoidance in adult relationships
Trust, control, and difficulty letting others in
Choosing partners or friends who recreate familiar dynamics
Boundaries with a parent who is still drinking, sober, or somewhere in between

Good fit for

Who these groups may help

Adults raised by a parent with alcoholism, whether or not that parent is still drinking
Anyone unpacking the long shadow of growing up in an alcoholic household
People in relationships affected by patterns learned in childhood
Anyone curious about peer ACOA support outside of a 12-step framework

Keep exploring

Frequently asked questions

Is this group part of the ACOA 12-step program?

No. ShareWell groups are peer-led but not affiliated with ACA, AA, Al-Anon, or any specific 12-step program. Members from any background, including those in 12-step recovery, are welcome.

Does my parent have to be diagnosed or still drinking for me to belong here?

No. Many members have parents who were never formally diagnosed, who got sober, or who have passed away. The shared experience is growing up in a household shaped by alcoholism.

What if my issue is with another family member, not a parent?

These groups center the adult-child-of-an-alcoholic-parent experience, but many of the patterns overlap with other family-of-origin substance use. You are welcome to see if the group fits, and we have other groups focused on family-of-origin dynamics more broadly.

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