It’s never easy to watch someone you love suffer from addiction. But if you’re the partner, friend, or family member of someone struggling with alcoholism, you can be a huge source of support.
Understanding how to support an alcoholic loved one is essential to their recovery journey. At Northpoint Washington, our family therapy program specializes in helping people with addiction recover and heal using individual and group therapy. Call 888.450.2153 today and learn more.
What is Alcohol Abuse?
Before we dive into how to support an alcoholic loved one, it’s essential to understand what alcoholism is. Alcohol abuse is a pattern of drinking that harms one’s health, relationships, or work. It’s often characterized by a strong need or compulsion to drink, difficulty cutting back or quitting, and continued drinking despite adverse consequences.
Signs and Symptoms of Alcohol Abuse
If you’re wondering if your loved one is struggling with alcoholism, there are some signs and symptoms of which to be aware. These include:
- Drinking more or for longer periods than intended
- Repeatedly trying to cut back or quit but being unsuccessful
- Spending a lot of time drinking or recovering from a hangover
- Missing work or important commitments due to drinking
- Drinking in dangerous situations, such as before driving
- Continuing to drink despite social, financial, or legal problems
- If your loved one is exhibiting any of these signs, it’s important to reach out for help.
Alcoholism and Families
Alcoholism doesn’t just affect the person struggling with addiction. It also takes a toll on families. Family members often feel powerless, ashamed, and helpless when they watch their loved ones suffer. It’s important to understand that you are not responsible for your loved one’s alcoholism, but you can play a role in their recovery.
Alcoholism and families is a complex issue that requires professional help to address. At Northpoint Washington, we offer family therapy to help families heal the damage that addiction has caused.
How to Support an Alcoholic Loved One
You may feel helpless and alone if you have a loved one struggling with alcoholism. But you are not alone. In this blog post, we’ll share tips on supporting an alcoholic loved one through their treatment.
- Educate yourself about alcoholism – If you want to be a supportive and helpful presence in your loved one’s life, it’s essential to educate yourself about alcoholism. This knowledge will help you understand what they’re going through and how you can best support them.
- Attend family therapy sessions – Family therapy sessions can be incredibly helpful for you and your loved one. You’ll learn how to communicate effectively, set boundaries, and resolve conflict in therapy. You’ll also better understand addiction and how it affects the whole family.
- Avoid enabling behaviors – Enabling behaviors unintentionally support or enable someone’s addiction. For example, if you make excuses for your loved one’s drinking or cover up their consequences, you are enabling their addiction. It’s important to avoid these behaviors if you want to be supportive.
- Be there for them – One of the best things you can do for your loved ones is simply to be there for them. Listen to them, offer emotional support, and tell them that you love them unconditionally. Supporting someone struggling with addiction can be difficult, but you don’t have to go through it alone.
When you take time to understand how to support an alcoholic loved one, you are helping them on their path to recovery. If you or someone you love is struggling, we encourage you to reach out.
Get The Help You Need Today at Northpoint Washington
We understand how difficult it is to watch a loved one suffer from addiction. Northpoint Washington offers comprehensive treatment programs that specialize in helping people with addiction recover and heal. Contact us today at 888.450.2153 and learn more about our programs and how we can help you and your loved one.