Tips To Help Your Loved One with Alcohol Addiction Issues

Watching a friend, family member or a colleague struggle with alcoholism is very difficult. You may desperately want to change this situation, but the big confusion is whether he/she wants your help or not.

Excessive consumption of alcohol affects all the social and professional relationships of a person. However, appropriate treatment and therapy can help addicts to develop skills and maintain their sobriety.

Below are some tips to help an alcoholic.

• Be open and frank

At first, a person may deny the fact that he or she drinks too much, but it is better to open up and be frank, and ask for professional assistance. There may be negative responses and even aggressive reactions at your suggestions. You may feel embarrassed at these resistance, but don’t be judgmental. You cannot force a person into treatment, and just offer help. They are the ones who decide for themselves.

• Engage others

Get friends and family members involved in the intervention. Encourage the participants to avoid individual opinions. Take help from a doctor or therapist at the addiction treatment center on how to convince a person to opt for treatment. Learn your options as well as enquire about different programs in your locality and insurance coverage, if any.

• Choose a time & place to talk

You need to have an addict’s complete attention, when you talk. Ensure that he/she is totally sober. The place you select must be private and quiet to avoid interruptions or embarrassment.

• Ask for commitment

An addict may promise to cut on alcohol consumption without external assistance. It is better that you don’t get influenced, and insist him/her to get enrolled for a formal treatment program.

This is the best solution to overcome alcoholism. Ask for solid commitment and follow up. Alcoholics can relapse, after realizing that the treatment process is lengthy. If the addict resists, then it suggested that you plan an intervention including his or her family, friends, and counselors.

• Stay with them

Your job does not end with having the alcoholic enrolled for an alcohol addiction treatment program. Rehabilitation is a constant process, and they need your support at every stage of recovery. You can join them in their treatment sessions and help them stay focused.

• Stay informed

Learn about alcoholism to choose the right path to help your loved ones or friends or spouse. You will need to be supportive and help them control codependency. No doubt, coping with an alcoholic is emotionally stressful, but you can take help from a counselor to be strong.