Hi,
Thanks for sending us your letter. It sounds like you went through a tough time with your mum and still have concerns about it now. Asking for help when you feel you might need some is always the right thing to do. While everyone is different, we all need support some times.
Im glad to hear that your mum is better now. It can be really hard to overcome any addiction so it sounds like she worked hard to get well. While that is great, its okay and very natural that you would want some help to deal with your past. As well as the feelings you may have struggled with during the time your mum wasnt well. Alateen are an organisation who run groups for young people ages 12-17 who have experience of having someone in their lives with an alcohol problem.
Youve mentioned going to a counsellor, but I can hear that you are worried about money. There are free counselling services available in many areas. Your doctor may be able to make a referral for you to see a counsellor locally, and you shouldnt have to pay for that. Some counsellors offer regular appointments in school, so its worth asking a teacher or your school nurse about that. You can also look at the Youth Access website to see if there are any free counselling services near you. A lot of them will allow you to self-refer which means you can get in touch directly to make an appointment for yourself.
You might also want to have a look at our Explore content about parents and alcohol.
While ChildLine doesnt provide long term counselling we are someone you can talk to if you need to just get things off your chest or talk things through for a while. You can always call us on 0800 1111 or talk to a counsellor on 1-2-1 chat.
Take care
Sam
You can talk privately to a counsellor online or call 0800 1111 for free.
You can ask me about anything you want, there's nothing too big or small. I read every single letter but I can only answer a few each week. My replies are published here on my page.
