Alcoholism affects millions of people. It not only damages the life of the alcoholic, but has far-reaching effects on the lives of the rest of the family. In this book David Stafford, a psychoanalytic psychotherapist who treats alcoholics and also counsels the children of alcoholics, confronts the issues and offers understanding and advice. He explains the concept of alcohol dependence and describes what it is like to grow up in the shadow of the bottle. He shows how a child's development is affected physically, mentally and emotionally if there is a drinker in the family, and discusses the problems these children have in adult life, when they often suffer from low self-esteem and co-dependency. He also suggests ways to recover from the past and build healthy and happy relationships.