It can be difficult to support someone struggling with alcohol addiction. This topic is difficult to discuss, you may struggle to find the right words, and your empathy might be limited.
You cannot force someone to seek assistance, no matter how hard it may be. However, there are ways that you can encourage them.
This page will help you to find the most effective ways to help an alcoholic. We have used our own research and personal experience to guide you. It covers how to help an alcoholic, how to talk to a family member, understanding alcoholism and staging an intervention.
When is it Time to Say Something?
There is a fine distinction between these two. If the addict refuses to admit that there is a problem, it can make it difficult to know. How do you determine if the person is in need of treatment. Do they need to go through alcohol rehab? Or could they simply be able to cut down on their alcohol consumption?
Perhaps you’ve been watching your parent or other family member struggle with alcohol consumption for a while. Because of the stigma surrounding alcohol abuse and addiction, it is possible that you were reluctant to share your thoughts.
It is important to understand that an individual with alcohol problems might not be able to make a judgment about whether or not they are drinking. Because alcohol can cause brain damage that affects decision-making and logical thinking, it is likely that they are unable to see what you see.
What is the best time to say something? Also, what should you say? You should tell the person you suspect is having a problem. It’s better to do something immediately than wait for the situation to worsen. Even if your suspicions are incorrect, you will still show that you care and that you don’t want to make the situation worse. If you are right, this will expose the issue and force the individual affected to seek help.
How do I talk to my family member?
No one wants to admit that they have allowed their alcohol abuse to get outof control. A lot of people prefer to ignore the subject of addiction and abuse, and just hope the situation improves on its own. This will not happen.
It is possible that you are concerned about how to approach your loved ones if they have a problem. It is important to realize that you shouldn’t approach the subject like a bull in china shop.
A judgmental or accusatory tone can cause your loved ones to become defensive and close their eyes. Take a step back, and try to imagine the other person. Consider how you would feel if someone you care about approached you with the same problem. How would you prefer to have the conversation?
When you tell your loved one that they have noticed a change in their drinking habits, it is likely that they will feel embarrassed or humiliated. You might be tempted to deny the existence of the problem. Show empathy and concern, not disapproval. Experts recommend that positive language is used, and that you refrain from labelling or criticizing others.
Your family member may be more open than you think to suggest that he/she is “in danger of developing problems” rather than having one.
You Can Make a Change!
As you may be aware, it is impossible to force an alcoholic friend or family member to get help. This can lead to the false impression that you cannot change or save an alcoholic.
It is difficult to watch someone you care about drink to death. You should remember that the person in question has no control over alcohol. This person will likely be dependent on alcohol both psychologically and physically.
While you can’t force anyone to get treatment, it is possible to be there for them and to help them see the seriousness of their situation. It is not a good idea to allow the affected person take control of your daily life. No matter how much you wish to help, your friend or loved one will use your friendship or love against you.
Be aware that alcoholism can lead to a person’s changing. He or she will be likely to become selfish and manipulative in pursuit of alcohol. Nothing will stop them – even you, no matter how difficult this may be for you.
You must be there to help others.
Strong people can help their alcoholic loved ones, whether they are your spouse, your parent, your child, or friend. It can be difficult to see someone you love struggling with alcohol addiction. You may feel angry and frustrated as you watch the person change. It can even make you vulnerable and weak.
It is important to learn more about alcoholism so that you can assist the individual. Find out as much as possible about how the illness may be affecting you. Reach out to your Al-Anon chapter. It is a group that helps family members of chronic alcoholism sufferers. This group allows you to meet other people in the same situation and receive counselling and advice to help you manage your own situation.
Instigating an Intervention
It is possible to reach a point where you are forced into intervention. It is possible that you had hoped to convince them to accept the diagnosis before they reach out to a group of close friends and family to encourage them to seek treatment. But this may be your last resort.
If managed well, interventions can be very effective in getting addicts to take their medication. For assistance with organizing an intervention, please contact us. You can also contact us to speak with a professional interventionist, who will help you stage it.
Support during treatment and recovery
Recovery from alcohol addiction can be hard. The affected person will need lots of support during treatment. A good support network can make all the difference for a successful recovery.
Even though you can’t make the person whole again, it is possible to be there for them. It is vital that the person concerned knows you are there to support them and to offer your help to ensure that they are fully recovered.
Detox vs Rehab: Which Is Better?
Many people are unsure whether rehab or detox is the best option for an alcoholic friend or family member. However, it is often necessary to do both. A comprehensive recovery program will include rehab, detox, and aftercare. Studies show that those who don’t complete a detox are more likely than those who continue with a rehabilitation program.
Detox is meant to address the physical addiction. Rehab is intended to help the addict overcome their psychological addiction and any emotional issues that may accompany it. A number of steps are required to ensure successful addiction treatment.
It is important to provide ongoing support in the form of follow-ups and aftercare.
Alcoholism and Co-Dependent Relationships
When alcoholism is an issue, codependency is a major problem. Co-dependency is when people have a negative relationship with their alcoholic friends. They may feel they have their own dependency but that is only because of the addiction and not alcohol.
People with co-dependency often put the needs and wants of the alcoholics before their own. They might justify addictive behavior or cover-up for the alcoholic. Others will withdraw from society and become isolated in an attempt to hide their addicted loved ones’ condition from the rest of the world.
5 Rules to Be Supportive
Here are some ways you can show your support for an alcoholic who’s in treatment. These are the five rules that you need to follow.
Keep everything running smoothly at home
It is important to make sure that the person you love and care about is well taken care of during treatment. This person will need to put all their energy into getting well and will feel more at ease if they don’t have to worry about the home.
You can make your home a safe place for substances
If your loved one is working hard to quit alcohol and other mood-altering substances it would be helpful for you to have cleared all temptations upon his or her return home. You should also avoid prescription medications and other substances you may not believe contain alcohol. It is possible that your loved one may have an addiction to alcohol.
Please support this program
Your loved one will be grateful to you for being there for him/her. Keeping in touch with them may prove important. You should check with the rehab provider for their thoughts. It is possible that staff at the rehabilitation centre will prefer you not to visit in the initial stages of treatment. This is because visiting could cause addictive behaviour. You might prefer to write a note to the person, rather than calling or visiting. You will let the person know that you are present, but it is less likely for something to be said at the last minute.
Look after yourself
Your loved one will be in treatment and you will have time to care for yourself. This is an important part supporting them. As someone who has been affected by addiction, you have the opportunity to get back to your strength now that they are under the care of a team of counselors and therapists. This is a good time to join Al-Anon and meet other people in similar circumstances.
Get involved in the family program
Your loved one may have family therapy as part of their rehab program. It is possible that this will be included. You and your counsellor may be able to meet in a group session with your loved one, or individually. Family therapy can help heal the whole family.
Frequently Asked Question
Can hypnosis be used to help an alcoholic?
A common use of hypnotherapy in a program for recovering from alcoholism is when it’s part of a rehabilitation plan. This treatment can be used to calm the mind and allow for suggestions. The subconscious brain can be accessed by hypnotherapists while the person is in a state of relaxation, but still fully conscious of the world around him. It can be used for relapse prevention.
How to help an alcoholic without encouraging them
There is a fine line between helping an addict and encouraging them. For example, if you are trying to help a loved one who is an alcoholic, be careful not to do so in a way that encourages the addict to continue their addictive behavior. Don’t give money to someone with alcoholism, even if they tell you it’s needed to feed the family or pay bills.
Encourage them to take you along to the doctor. Also, learn all you can about how you can help.
How to convince an alcoholic drinker to get help
As you probably know, alcoholism can’t be forced on someone who isn’t ready. But you can try to persuade them to seek help. Talk to the person to explain what harm their actions are causing to others and to their own lives. Tell the person how important it is to get help. You must be prepared to carry it out if this is done.
How to help a spouse who is married to an alcoholic
Due to their partner’s drinking, spouses can often be severely affected. They must live with unpredictable and chaotic behaviours all the time. He or she could be taking on the alcoholic spouse’s responsibilities and trying to forgive behaviour that might seem inexcusable to others. Support and love can be offered to anyone you care for who is married to an alcoholic. You can talk to the person concerned and mention Al-Anon, a family support group that provides advice and information for loved ones of alcoholics.
How to help an alcoholic with no money
Analcoholics have a hard time with money, as they often spend every dollar to support their addiction. Friends and loved ones may ask for money to help them pay their bills, buy food, or continue their downward spiral into alcohol abuse. Donating money to an addict is not a good idea. It only encourages them to keep abusing alcohol.
It is better for someone to give love and support as well as to provide information that will assist them in their journey to recovery.
How to help an addict who is relapsing
You should not consider it the end of the world if an alcoholic friend relapses following a program of rehabilitation. You shouldn’t judge or disapprove of the alcoholic. You should not judge or disapprove of the person. This is the time to get help. If you find yourself in this position, please call UKAT for assistance.
How can you help an alcoholic?
Offering support and love is the best way to help an alcoholic. You can be positive and help him or her through any difficulties. This is the truth about helping alcoholics. You may have heard the expression “you have to act cruel to be kind.” You should not give the individual any money or other assistance that would allow him or her to continue using alcohol. You might find that it is the best way to encourage someone to self-help is to hold them accountable for their actions.
