Alcohol abuse affects the whole family. There are numerous measures you can take to help a family member get treatment for alcoholism. Once they accept treatment, the whole family should work with them to make the themes of recovery a family lifestyle.
What Can You Do About Alcohol Abuse In The Family?
It’s a question that millions of people face everyday. Family matters are inherently emotional, and emotion is notorious for getting in the way of logic and pragmatism—two important qualities when it comes to solving the problem of a present alcoholic.
Trying To Fix Alcohol Problems Does Not Work
You cannot simply “fix” an addict or an alcoholic. They must be treated with loving detachment and clinical care: Love them, but don’t love their addictive behavior; support them, but don’t support their addiction. Always refer to their treatment process and what the opportunities they have to get and stay sober.
Genuine care and love coupled with earnest attempts at helping an addicted loved one can still fall short. However, well rehearsed boundaries and detached emotions can also lead to positive change, if controlled, regulated, practiced, and managed.
Family Alcohol Abuse Help
Think about this: If someone has an infectious disease, what do you do? You have them see a professional. The same holds true for addicted loved ones. Residential treatment is one of the most beneficial ways for your loved one who has fallen ill to alcoholism to get well again. The idea that addicts should seek out help completely on their own is ill-guided. You can support them in finding their own strength and inspiration to get and stay sober.
Be supportive of the good qualities your addictive family member has whilst acknowledging that the path they are taking in their addiction is destructive to them, to your family, and to everyone’s future. Make sure the addicted person understands where the family-dynamic is heading if they continue their ways. Never verbally attack the addict but approach them with loving detachment. Insist, as lovingly as possible, that the addict does something to help him or herself, like agreeing to go to treatment. If they insist that they aren’t addicted—that they could stop if only they desired—suggest that they prove it by stopping for a month or two.
Addiction affects families, not just the addicts, so it make sense that treatment should focus on family units. At Cypress Lake Recovery, we strive to get whole families on onboard with each other to fight addiction in the household together. To learn about group and family therapy programs, call us today: 866-217-2636
