Helping the Alcoholic

One of the primary difficulties in getting treatment for an alcoholic is the alcoholic’s inability to acknowledge that they have a problem. In fact, denial is considered by experts to be one of the early signs of alcoholism. If you are concerned about a loved one who you feel may be suffering from alcoholism, it’s important you and your family learn about the nature of the disease of alcoholism.
Admitting that one has a drinking problem is never easy. However, it is a fundamental requirement for quitting drinking. Honesty is one of the most important elements in alcohol recovery. In most cases, treatment won’t work if an alcoholic is unable to acknowledge that they have a problem. Letting go of denial is one of the first steps to getting help. When the alcoholic becomes aware that their drinking is causing chaos in their lives and their loved ones lives, they become more willing to seek help.
Unfortunately, the process of getting honest can take time. Both the alcoholic and their loved ones may feel a great deal of shame. Unfortunately, even today, many people view alcoholism as a moral or psychological weakness. Society still stereotypes the alcoholic as many people tend to view alcoholics as irresponsible and self-centered. The overall perception of alcoholism is that of the late stage alcoholic. The late stage alcoholic not only suffers from serious health conditions, but may have lost his job, home and family ties. In truth, the symptoms of alcoholism can vary from person to person.
To further exacerbate the problem, many doctors and medical professional fail to identify the early signs or symptoms of alcoholism. In this case, the doctor may merely suggest too cut back on intake. Cutting back rarely works for an alcoholic as one of the primary distinctions of alcoholism is an inability to control one’s drinking. Improper diagnosis is a frequent problem. Another issue is that many doctors continue to view alcoholism as a psychological problem or disorder. Although the doctor may refer them to a therapist or psychologist, it doesn’t necessarily mean their alcoholism will get addressed in therapy.
Alcoholics are skilled at justifying their behavior. They are masters of blaming others or outside influences for their problems. It’s never easy for an alcoholic to stop drinking because the alcoholic believes that alcohol is not the problem. More importantly, should they quit, they would have to give up something that makes them feel good.
The families of alcoholics also have to deal with issues of denial. In fact, it’s an important part of the recovery process. It’s not just the alcoholic that needs to heal and recover, families need to as well. When a family stays in denial they are enabling the alcoholic to keep drinking. An important element for recovery is learning how to hold the alcoholic responsible for their own behaviors and actions.
Whatever the case may be, if you want to help your loved one in their recovery, transparency, open-mindedness and willingness are a must. It would help if family members establish honesty about how they are feeling in regards to their relationship to their addicted loved one. Families provide a great deal of motivation for the alcoholic to quit drinking. When the alcoholic comes to terms with how much their drinking is harming their loved ones, they may become more willing to get help.
Carolyn Nyman is the webmaster of Signsofalcoholism.org. For more on the signs of alcoholism and how to help an alcoholic, please visit her website or click on the links.