a young woman and her child are unsure of how to deal with an alcoholic It can be hard accepting that a loved one has an addiction. Too often, an addict will recognize the problem as their own. They fail to realize how much this addiction is affecting the loved ones around them. If you have a loved one who is an alcoholic, it can be frustrating to handle the situation. It’s important to learn how to deal with an alcoholic, and how some actions might be making the matter worse.

Enabling an Alcoholic

You want what’s best for a loved one, but there are right and wrong ways to help. How to deal with an alcoholic will also include how to prevent enabling their actions. Enabling behaviors are detrimental to your relationship, but many people are unaware that they’re engaging in them. To enable an alcoholic is to do any of the following:

  • Buying or consuming alcohol with them
  • Blaming someone else for the alcoholic’s addiction
  • Nagging them about their drinking
  • Denying the alcoholism
  • Covering for the alcoholic
  • Putting the alcoholic’s needs before your own

You only want your loved one to be happy, but enabling their drinking can lead to even more problems.

How to Deal With an Alcoholic

Ideally, your loved one will seek treatment. You can’t badger someone into getting help, however, as this often has the opposite effect. Instead, you may have to back away and practice self-care to avoid falling into a depressive spiral.

How to deal with an alcoholic productively will involve admitting that it’s not your fault they drink, despite what your loved one tells you. Remember that it’s common for alcoholics to blame others.

Recognize that you can’t control or cure them. Chances are, as long as they’re in denial, there’s very little you can do about their drinking. You also shouldn’t accept bad behavior from them, such as abuse.

You may want to attend Al-Anon meetings for yourself. These meetings can give you the strength and support you need if you live with an alcoholic.

You can’t help an alcoholic until they’re ready to get help on their own. Don’t waste your energies nagging, pressuring, or threatening for them to seek treatment. Instead, take care of yourself. Caring for yourself will make you ready to care for them when the time comes.

Should your loved one suffer a crisis, they might be ready to check into alcohol rehab. When they turn to rehab, be supportive and encouraging. A stable support system will be essential in their recovery.

Taking the First Steps to Recovery

Steps to Recovery is an addiction treatment facility in Levittown, Pennsylvania. We view each client as a unique person and will devise a treatment plan best suited to the individual. Our facility takes a collaborative approach to treatment. The addiction recovery services we provide include:

  • Alcohol addiction rehab program
  • Drug addiction rehab programs
  • Addiction counseling
  • Family therapy
  • Group therapy

If you or a loved one wants help overcoming a drug or alcohol addiction, we’re ready to be your advocates in recovery. Call us today at 267.719.8528 for more information.