Alcoholism is a debilitating disease. It’s painful to watch a person being taken under by the clutches of this illness, and you want to do all you can to help. Many folks can hide their addiction for a while, but eventually, it will start impacting every facet of their being. It’s challenging to sit by idly and watch them destroy their life. Here are six ways to help a loved one with alcohol addiction.
1. Never Enable Them
One of the worst things you can do for someone who has an alcohol addiction is to enable them. Enabling encompasses buying them alcohol, giving them money, or taking them to make a purchase. While you will never stop the behavior, at least you can make a stand and not be a part of it.
While you should never browbeat them or make them feel shameful for having a disease, you should not have anything to do with helping them get the substance ruining their life. Enabling will cause you guilt and do nothing to help them kick the habit.
2. Don’t Drink With Them
Whether it’s a casual beer at a family gathering or you have wine with dinner, you should never drink with your loved one who has this disease. Though a simple drink may not bother you, it can be quite dangerous to a person with an addiction. If you have any control over what’s being served when they’re around, make sure alcohol isn’t on the menu.
When you drink with them, you’re sending the message that their behavior is okay, whether you say it or not. Also, if someone cannot control how much they drink, they can easily get drunk to the point of passing out on your dime. It doesn’t make for a good family gathering.
3. Schedule An Intervention
While your loved ones will only seek help when they’re ready, it’s sometimes beneficial to stage an intervention. This meeting will allow them to hear all the compelling evidence from people that mean the most. Being surrounded by love and support may be what it takes to help them seek treatment.
Make sure you have this session when they’re sober, as it won’t have the same impact when they’re inebriated. It should also be done in a place where they feel comfortable. Though this is a hard step, it’s essential to help point them in the right direction. Many of the 16 million Americans who suffer from this condition don’t have any support or encouragement.
4. Arm Yourself With Knowledge
Learning all you can about addiction can help you know how to handle the situation better. Counselors at inpatient rehab Jackson MS not only offer treatments, but they can also offer professional insights on how to best support a loved one during these hard times.
Trained professionals know what works and what is going to push them further away. Understanding what they’re feeling on the inside, and what’s happening to their body, better equips you on how to help.
5. Stay Calm
It would help if you stayed calm when interacting with someone with an addiction. Remember that you will attract more flies with honey than vinegar. They don’t always think clearly when they have a substance altering their mental state.
Second, they’ll come out swinging if you get combative with them. Whenever you talk to them about the issues, no matter how passionate you feel about it, don’t ever yell or be forceful. You want to come from a place of love and support and not one of anger.
6. Be Compassionate
Remember that your loved one doesn’t want to be this way. No one wakes up and decides they will be a drug addict or an alcoholic. Rather, most are trying to self-medicate an inner pain that won’t disappear.
For some folks, an underlying mental illness is a driving force. Getting them into a treatment facility that can treat alcoholism and mental illness is imperative.
Closing Thoughts
When you have a family member caught in the clutches of addiction, it rips your heart out. Until they decide to get help, you’re powerless. However, there are many things you can do to help them in this journey, and they can overcome this addiction with your love and support.
