Living with an Alcoholic: What to Know and How to Cope
Helping someone with an alcohol use problem may be a challenge, but it is possible. More and more resources are becoming available to those struggling with substance use problems. The future of addiction recovery is becoming increasingly brighter. Remember that relapse is part of recovery for many individuals, and your loved one may be one of them.
Approaching someone to discuss your concerns is different from an intervention. It involves planning, giving consequences, sharing, and presenting a treatment option. If the person does have an alcohol problem, the best thing you can do is be open and honest with them about it. Hoping the person will get better on their own won’t change the situation. Let the person you care for know that you’re available and that you care.
It also provides coping skills to prevent relapse and promote a healthy relationship. Standing by your friend or family member’s progress during and after treatment is important, too. Even after recovery, your person will be in situations they can’t predict. Ways you can help include avoiding alcohol when you’re together or opting out of drinking in social situations.
Create a Healthy Parent-Child Relationship
Self-help organizations, church groups, and 12-step programs like Al-Anon and Alateen offer advice, hope and encouragement to people involved with functioning alcoholics. At The Recovery Village, we know how challenging it can be to cope with having an alcoholic spouse. We believe in involving the family in a recovering person’s treatment process, and we can offer the support you need.
People can have a varied reaction and tolerance to alcohol and that doesn’t necessarily mean they are alcoholics. However, as functioning alcoholics drink more regularly, they develop a higher tolerance. They still want to feel the buzz or numb out from their problems for a while, so they will begin drinking more as their tolerance to alcohol increases.
- Having a loved one suffering from alcoholism can feel all-consuming, but it’s important to seek support for oneself.
- This may involve keeping them safe while they’re drinking or offering to help find a treatment that suits them.
- You might feel guilty about the situation, eventually leading to depression.
- It is only when they experience their own pain that they will feel a need to change.
How Effective Is Rehab and Drug Addiction Treatment?
After recovery, some people with AUD may need support from friends and family. You can help by offering unconditional support, including abstaining from drinking yourself. There are many options available to help people who care about alcoholics. Groups like Al-Anon offer peer support and access to other resources.
About 10.5% of young people under 18 live with at least one parent with AUD, according to research. Often when someone has AUD, they can start to let a lot of chores and other responsibilities around the house slip. It can seem natural for a spouse or child to take on more than their share to keep everything afloat. Ultimately, taking the first step toward change, whether for them or yourself, can start the journey toward healing and a brighter future.
Living With An Alcoholic: Do’s, Don’ts, And How To Cope
Instead, help them find the best treatment option for them so they can get back on track to long-term recovery. You may encourage them to call their sponsor, research other treatment options with them such as long-term treatment, or utilize another professional resource. Your loved one’s motivation for recovery hinges on the encouragement and support they get from others around them. Alcohol can cause health problems for almost every organ in the body. It can result in physical issues like liver or heart disease, a weakening of the immune system, and gastrointestinal issues.
Ask about new strategies that they learned in treatment or meetings. Alcoholism is a term used to describe someone with an alcohol use disorder. Someone with alcoholism has both a physical and psychological dependence on alcohol. They may have problems controlling their drinking habits or choose to keep drinking even though it causes problems.
All of this can leave you feeling like you are in a prison that you can’t escape. You may be feeling scared, resentful or even guilty about your loved one’s drinking, and this can slowly grind down your self-esteem and sense of worth. It is so important that you understand that none of this is your fault and that while you cannot control their drinking, there are steps you can take to help them and protect yourself. Friends, roommates, or other family members who live with someone with AUD may also find themselves blaming the person or trying to control their drinking behaviors. There are a variety of emotions and behaviors that can come up if you live with someone misusing alcohol.
Take Care of Yourself
Protect your children, and don’t hesitate to keep them away from someone who drinks and does not respect your boundaries. Growing up Toxic cane toads pose threat to people, pets in a home where alcohol use is common can leave lasting scars. You might slowly begin to accept more and more unacceptable behavior.
