Are you continually wondering – is my loved one an alcoholic? When all you have to deal with are lies, constant arguments, dozens of empty bottles, and aggressive behaviors due to a loved one’s drinking habit, you should seek immediate medical intervention. However, official statistics reveal that you’re not alone. An estimated 15 million adults in the US suffer from an alcohol use disorder, and their families are likely going through the same thing as you are. Here are some steps you can take to help a loved one who is struggling with alcoholism.
Is My Loved One An Alcoholic? Practice Self-Appreciation
It’s highly likely that your loved one is a person with noble objectives in life. However, don’t forget that addiction is a mental illness that destroys the brains of people, making them insane and senseless.
So you need to start understanding that the illness is neither your fault nor theirs. Keep in mind that pieces of advice from some experts and textbooks might leave you with guilty feelings. For example, some people may blame you for having enabled the alcoholism in the past.
Never blame yourself for trying to help a loved one, especially if you’ve been racking your brain while asking – is my loved one an alcoholic? This only means that you care, and you need to be proud of it. However, in case you find yourself in the same circumstances next time, seek expert opinion first. What you’re dealing with right now should be your epiphany.
Learn the Downfalls of Helping an Addict
Although you might have helped your loved one innocently in the past, you ought to understand that their mental illness thrives on chronic drinking. Your loved one’s emotional and spiritual maturity started to diminish the moment addiction came into the picture.
Alcohol is the only obsession for people suffering from alcohol use disorders, so expect them to neglect other responsibilities. This is the point where they need you the most.
With good intentions, you might begin taking care of them financially and in many other ways. However, you should know that this does not help at all. Although they’re sick, when you shoulder their financial burdens, you leave them with extra resources to drink even more. You’ll not be protecting them, but rather the addiction, thus encouraging the disorder.
Additionally, you run the risk of neglecting your own needs, which is a recipe for depression should you fail to achieve positive outcomes.
Don’t aid the addiction, but take the person to a certified rehab center for professional help. Stop being an enabler and leave addiction treatment to the experts.
Stop Enabling the Addiction
There are several things that you should avoid if you don’t want to become an accomplice to your loved one’s addiction, including:
- Don’t hide the condition from their family, friends, and work colleagues
- Don’t trust their white lies
- Resist covering up for their misbehavior
- Don’t clean them when they vomit or take them to bed when they pass out
- Show respect and don’t take an addict’s behavior personally
Is My loved One An Alcoholic? Get Treatment at Northern Illinois Recovery Center
You might not be a mental health expert, but you can help a loved to seek treatment in a certified rehab facility. At Northern Illinois Recover Center, our mental health experts will ensure your loved one receives holistic addiction treatment.
For a comprehensive treatment, therapists often combine various treatment options, including:
- DUI rehab program
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy
- 12 step program
- Women’s addiction treatment program
- Medication therapy management program
- Structured sober living program
When living with someone who displays symptoms of addiction, you’ll continually ask – is my loved one an alcoholic? If you’re in this situation, the best course of action is to seek professional help from mental health experts. Contact us today at 855.786.1978 to schedule an appointment.
