When someone that you care about has become addicted to alcohol, it’s common to fear that there’s nothing you can do to help them. While it’s true that you can’t cure your loved one, you can play a vital role in the effort to connect them with the care they need. In today’s post, we discuss how to get help for an alcoholic family member.
Before we explore how to get help for an alcoholic family member, let’s quickly review how to tell if your loved one has become addicted. Here are some of the more common signs of alcoholism:
If you’ve noticed these signs, there’s a good chance that your loved one has a drinking problem and needs professional care. Now, let’s turn our attention toward how to get help for an alcoholic family member.
The following tips are good starting points for trying to help someone who has become ensnared by alcohol addiction:
Educate yourself about the effects of alcoholism as well as types of treatment. The more you understand about what your family member has been going through, the better prepared you will be to offer meaningful assistance. Also, when your loved one decides to get help, your research into treatment options can help you identify facilities or programs that may be the best fit for them.
We noted this at the top of this post, but it’s worth reiterating here: You cannot cure someone else’s addiction. When you acknowledge that certain aspects of your loved one’s life are beyond your ability to control, this can free you to stop blaming yourself for their struggles. It can also empower you to focus on the areas that you can influence – such as learning how to get help for an alcoholic family member.
Talking to someone about their alcohol abuse is rarely an easy conversation to have. But it is necessary. At some point, you will need to share your concerns with your loved one and talk to them about getting help. As you prepare for this discussion, keep the following in mind:
Don’t let your loved one push you around, either metaphorically or literally.
Alcoholism can cause people to become uncharacteristically manipulative and aggressive. If you feel that you are in danger, remove yourself from the situation. If you worry that your loved one may become physically or emotionally abusive, don’t allow yourself to be alone with them.
As with talking to your loved one about their alcoholism, establishing appropriate boundaries isn’t easy – but it is extremely important.
Resist the urge to cover up for your loved one’s misdeeds or make excuses for what they have (or haven’t) done. You might feel like you’re protecting them from additional harm, but what you may actually be doing is enabling their self-destructive behavior.
Accountability and responsibility are cornerstones of effective recovery. Even if your loved one isn’t ready to quit drinking yet, they need to know that neither you nor anyone else will continue to shield them from the effects of their actions.
Trying to support an alcoholic family member on your own can be an overwhelming experience. If at all possible, don’t try to take this challenge on by yourself. Recruit a small number of close friends and/or trusted family members to help.
In addition to taking some of the burden off your shoulders, having this additional assistance can also demonstrate to your family member that many people care about them and are here to help them. Breaking through the isolation of alcoholism can be an important step on the path to recovery.
Your efforts to get help shouldn’t be limited to family and friends. When a family member becomes addicted to alcohol, they aren’t the only one who is impacted. Whether you realize it or not, you have also been affected by your loved one’s struggles.
Talking to a therapist, counselor, spiritual advisor, or other professional can help you process your experiences in a healthy manner. If your loved one has not yet agreed to enter a treatment program, the professional that you speak with may also be able to provide guidance on how to get help for an alcoholic family member.
If someone that you care about has been struggling with alcoholism or any other form of chemical dependence, Nashville Treatment Solutions is here to help. Our addiction treatment center in Nashville, Tennessee, offers multiple levels of personalized outpatient care to help adults end their alcohol abuse and build a healthier life in recovery. Throughout your family member’s time with us, they will receive customized services and compassionate support from a team of highly skilled treatment professionals.
To learn more about our programming, or to schedule an assessment for your family member, please visit our Admissions page or call us today.