Living with an Alcoholic: What to Know and How to Cope

Take the assessment and get matched with a therapist in as little as 48 hours. Unlike cocaine or heroin, alcohol is widely available and accepted in many cultures. It’s often at the center of social situations and closely linked to celebrations and enjoyment. When living with someone who has AUD, it’s important to understand that you didn’t cause the addiction. It’s also important to ask your loved one directly what you can do to help, especially during special events where alcohol may be served.

• We usually experience failures along the way, learn from them, and then keep going.
• Drinking problems also have a very negative impact on mental health.
• Psychologists can also provide referrals to self-help groups.
• At Choices Recovery, we offer our patients the ability to discover the tools and skills necessary to lead a healthier and more positive lifestyle.

You can’t monitor their behavior around the clock, make all their decisions for them, or allow their problems to take over your life. You are not your loved one’s therapist or AA mentor, so don’t try to take on those responsibilities. To avoid burnout, set clear limits on what you’re able to do. Try not to allow your loved one’s behavior to dictate your own health and happiness. Schedule time into your day for relaxing, maintaining your own health, and doing the things you enjoy. Your loved one’s recovery can be a long process, so you need to maintain a balance in your life.

Don’t Enable Their Behavior

It’s important to have people you can talk honestly and openly with about what you’re going through. Turn to trusted friends, a support group, people in your faith community, or your own therapist. A good place to start is by joining a group such as Al-Anon, a free peer support group for families dealing with a loved one’s alcohol abuse. Listening to others facing the same challenges can serve as a tremendous source of comfort and support, and help you develop new tools for coping. Alateen is a similar support group specifically for teens who have a family member abusing alcohol.

As you begin to notice those health benefits, you’ll likely feel more energized and inspired to keep up your progress. If you’re the partner of someone with AUD, you might feel isolated — or tempted struggling with alcohol addiction to isolate out of embarrassment or shame. Experiencing domestic violence, emotional abuse, or other hurtful actions like infidelity can further push partners to withdraw from family and friends.

Managing alcohol cravings

A number of these therapies, including cognitive-behavioral coping skills treatment and motivational enhancement therapy, were developed by psychologists. Additional therapies include 12-Step facilitation approaches that assist those with drinking problems in using self-help programs such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). You’re likely to start by seeing your primary health care provider. If your provider suspects that you have a problem with alcohol, you may be referred to a mental health provider. Alcohol abuse and addiction doesn’t just affect the person drinking—it affects their families and loved ones, too.

It is exactly the kind of innovation and intellectual risk that academia purports to accomplish in the first place. Certainly, shame does not make for good research or intellectual discovery. It swallows https://ecosoberhouse.com/ the qualities we need to think clearly and creatively. For James, alcohol was tied to wanting to change how he felt. There are also many aspects of academia that make it easy to nurse an addiction.

Rehab

Therefore, prioritize your well-being while supporting your loved one. Engage in stress-relieving activities, maintain healthy boundaries, and seek support from support groups or professionals. It’s perfectly safe when consumed in moderation; however, too much of a good thing rarely ends well as you could begin struggling with alcoholism. It’s great that you’ve taken the time to reflect on your alcohol use.

The more symptoms you have, the more urgent the need for change. A health professional can conduct a formal assessment of your symptoms to see if AUD is present. For an online assessment of your drinking pattern, go to RethinkingDrinking.niaaa.nih.gov. Your friend or loved one may also vow to cut back on their own. Watching a family member, friend, or coworker with an alcohol use disorder can be difficult. You might wonder what you can do to change the situation, and whether or not the person even wants your help.

If you’re not sure if you’re ready to change or you’re struggling with the decision, it can help to think about the costs and benefits of each choice. As a loved one of someone with an alcohol addiction, try to be encouraging and provide emotional support. Many people addicted to alcohol also turn to 12-step programs like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA).

You’ll also want to avoid any interruptions so that you both have each other’s full attention. Make sure your person is not upset or preoccupied with other issues. Through it all, however, be sure to take care of yourself and your mental health. You aren’t to blame for your loved one’s drinking problem and you can’t make them change.