How Can I Help an Alcoholic Family Member

Alcohol has been around for years. People enjoy it not only for its taste but also to enhance sociability, to get drunk for enjoyment, and even to escape problems.

Additionally, some people consume it as it is believed to benefit the health too. In fact, reports say it may reduce risks of heart disease, ischemic stroke, diabetes, etc.

However, just like other things, it should be consumed moderately as it’s not 100 percent risk-free. When consumed at a higher amount, it could also negatively affect your health, such as esophageal cancer and liver disease. And, of course, it could cost you your life, especially when you drink and drive.

Unfortunately, though, there are some people who abuse it and eventually become addicted to it. When this happens, that person’s health is at risk. Thus, it should be stopped and the person must immediately be directed to an alcohol treatment center around the area.

But how? And how should you help that person, especially if they’re a family member?

Alcoholism is becoming a huge problem these days. In fact, problems related to alcohol have significantly increased, especially these days. If you have a family member who’s suffering from alcoholism, here’s how you can help them to prevent deadly diseases as soon as possible.

Learn About Alcoholism

Just like in any challenge, knowing that you’re dealing with will help you find better solutions. If you’re well-informed about alcohol use disorder, it would be easier for you to build awareness about its dangers.

Having knowledge about alcohol abuse can also help you see if your family members are already addicted as you’ll know the warning signs of alcohol abuse. For instance, they may have an Addictive Personality and this may be contributing to the problem at hand. You should spend time finding out more about what it is exactly and the traits that come with it so you can better help your family member. This is important as not all people who frequently drink are already considered addicted to alcohol. Some just need it for a short period of time as their coping mechanism or a social habit.

Additionally, this helps you understand your relative better, so you’ll know what kind of assistance or support they need. A good place to learn is with a concierge alcohol detox.

Be Careful with Your Words

A person who suffers from alcohol abuse needs support to help him or her better. And as a family member, one of the ways you can help is by letting that person know that you care and that you’re available to lend them a hand.

Negative, presumptuous, or hurtful words can make a huge impact. Remember, words are powerful. You can either use it to destroy a person or help them rebuild themselves. Thus, drug rehab centres advise relatives to be more careful of what they say when you talk to them. Positive and supportive words will help them a lot.

You can also use “I” statements to help reduce accusation and allow you to become an active participant as you speak with them.

Encourage New Hobbies

Overcoming alcohol addiction is challenging whether or not you’re receiving treatment. To help a family member get by, one of the things you can do is encourage him or her to develop new hobbies.

Doing this will help your relative become preoccupied as he or she undergoes treatment. Especially if they developed hobbies that keep them moving, such as playing basketball, swimming, working out, and the likes, it will also help them be more fit.

Pick a Right Time and Place

Having a conversation with an alcoholic family member also helps. This will allow them to release their emotions that might have been causing their urge to drink more, their worries, etc.

However, make sure to talk to them at the right time in the right place. This way, you’ll have nothing to distract the both of you, so that you’ll have each other’s full attention. With this, you’ll understand each other better.

Of course, you also need to pick the right time as you can’t have deep talks with someone who’s drunk. He or she might not even remember your conversation. That said, ensure that your person is sober, isn’t upset, or isn’t preoccupied with other things.

Approach with Compassion and Honesty

It sure is kind of frustrating to see someone who drinks all day nearly every day of the week, especially if their alcohol problem is already affecting a lot of things and people around the. It’s so easy to be mad and throw a fight. But, this will not actually help. It might even worsen the problem.

What you need to do is to listen to them with compassion and be more open with how you feel. Tell them how it worries you when they’re drinking too much. But, also offer some support to help them get better.

At first, you might face negative reactions from your person, but he or she may just be in denial. Don’t take it personally. Instead, give them time and space to make a decision and listen to what they want to say.

Just Offer Support

No matter how frustrating their situation gets, at the end of the day, you can’t force them if they don’t want to receive treatment. Again, this is because they might be in denial.

When this happens, unfortunately, all you can do is to lend a hand. The ball is in their hands if they will take it or not. Regardless of their decision, though, be empathetic, sincere, and non-judgemental.

If your relative promises to solve it on their own, what you can do is to follow up on them. You can also urge him or her to receive some formal treatment.

Don’t Forget to Take Care of Yourself

Alcoholism doesn’t only affect the person who has become addicted to alcohol. Unfortunately, it can also take a toll on the people that surrounds the person dealing with alcoholism.

If it happens to you, don’t forget to take care of yourself too. Seek professional help if you feel like it’s already affecting you mentally. You can also join programs that are designed to help the family members and friends of alcoholics.

Alcoholism is a huge issue that needs to be addressed because it could impact health negatively. It could even cause a person’s life. And even when you seek professional help, the treatment process won’t be easy. A family member’s support, however, can make a huge difference.