Living with an Alcoholic
What is Alcoholism?
Alcohol use disorder or known as “alcoholism” is when someone has a pattern of unhealthy alcohol use and they are unable to stop. The person often is preoccupied with alcohol to the point it takes over their life, they must drink more and more to get the same effect and continues drinking despite the negative consequences it may cause. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, 17 million people (ages 18 and older) suffer from alcohol use disorder. Unhealthy alcohol use can include heavy drinking or binge drinking or any alcohol use that puts your health and safety at risk. Binge drinking is defined as a male drinking five or more drinks within two hours and a female drinking four drinks within two hours.
Symptoms of Alcohol Addiction Someone with an alcohol use disorder can have a mild, moderate, or severe case depending on how often and how much alcohol is consumed. Some typical symptoms of alcohol addiction can include:
Continued drinking despite the negative consequences it causes
Unable to stop or limit the amount of drinking you do
A strong urge and craving for alcohol
Experiencing withdrawal symptoms such as vomiting, nausea, shaking or sweating
Not participating in social activities that were once enjoyed
Making unsuccessful attempts to quit drinking
Building a tolerance and needing more alcohol to feel the same effects
Engaging in risky behaviors while under the influence such as driving or swimming
Living with an Alcoholic
Often people who are struggling with alcohol addiction will try to hide it from their friends and family. They may also think that their problem is only affecting them and not those around them. Addiction can cause people’s behaviors to change, create memory loss or other cognitive difficulties, and be at a higher risk for financial or legal problems. All of this can affect the relationships they have with their significant other, parents, siblings, friends, children, coworkers etc. If you have lived with an alcoholic for a long period of time you are probably familiar with the mood changes that can happen on a consistent basis. You have most likely tried to help them stop drinking by either getting rid of their “stash” or offering to go to therapy with them. You are probably wondering what you can do to help them and allow them to understand that their problem is not only affecting them, but also others around them. You have already determined that treatment may be necessary, but they need to decide on their own that they want to get help. An intervention may be necessary from a professional interventionist. First and most importantly, remember this is not your fault, or theirs. Addiction is a disease and there is nobody that can be blamed for their alcohol use disorder. To get better they will more than likely need professional help and a treatment center.
Helping your Loved One with Alcohol Addiction It will not be an easy task to address an alcohol addiction with a family member, especially if they resist help or don’t believe that they even have a problem. The person may be in denial, feel ashamed or not want to stop drinking at all. An intervention may be necessary to help your loved one get the help they need for their addiction. Some examples of steps that can be used to help your loved one with their addiction are:
Practice or rehearse—when talking to your loved one it’s important to be sensitive to their feelings and be open and honest about your relationship. Try not to blame or create any shame for the person.
Keep it simple—Keep it short, simple and to the point. The person being “accused” may lash out or even become aggressive towards the person who is bringing up their addiction. It’s helpful to think about this discussion as a way to heal the relationship, not completely end it.
Commit to change—stick with the changes that you want to be made. If new boundaries are set, they need to be kept. The goal is to help your loved one with their addiction, but not at the cost of your health or safety. This always needs to come first.
Ask for help from others—It may be necessary to conduct an intervention to help the person who is struggling. You may also need emotional support from others while you are going through this difficult situation.
Treatment for Alcohol Addiction
There are many treatment options available to help someone who is suffering from an alcohol use disorder. Once your loved one begins treatment for their addiction, they will be evaluated by a team of medical professionals to determine the best form of treatment. From there, they will begin the detox phase. Detoxification or “detox” is when a person clears the substance out of their body, often resulting in uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms. After detox is complete, the patient will either go to outpatient treatment or move into an inpatient treatment center. “The person struggling with alcohol use disorder should complete a professional detox and rehabilitation program, but it is equally important that their partner seek help too.”
Outpatient Treatment
A treatment program used to address addictions, eating disorders, depression or other dependencies that does not require detoxification or 24/7 supervision and support. The patient can live at home and continue with their daily routines and attend therapy sessions during the day or in the evening.
Inpatient Treatment
Treatment in a live-in health care facility where a patient receives therapy for their substance abuse problem with an average length of stay from anywhere from 30-90 days depending on the need of the patient. Residential treatment allows a person to receive care 24-7 by a medical professional and get the support that they need in order to remain sober and recover from addiction. If you or someone you know is experiencing symptoms related to alcohol addiction it is important to get help right away. Entelechy Recovery can help you or your loved one get the addiction help necessary so that you can live a healthy, sober life.
Resources
Families Anonymous US: 800-736-9805 INT: 847-294-5877 https://www.familiesanonymous.org/ Al-Anon 1-800-4AL-ANON (1-888-425-2666) https://al-anon.org/ Parents of Addicted Loved Ones 480-300-4712 https://palgroup.org/