If someone you care about struggles with alcohol addiction, then you might want to step in and help however you can. Even if you mean well, however, not all good intentions will truly be helpful. These tips can help you know how to help an alcoholic and how to step in and recognize the signs that a loved one requires treatment.
Don’t Limit the Consequences of Their Drinking
When you care about someone, you don’t want them to suffer. If you want to know how to help an alcoholic family member, however, don’t try to prevent them from experiencing the full reality of their consequences. Knowing how to help an alcoholic isn’t just about promoting sobriety. It is also about making them realize the consequences of their actions.
That means you shouldn’t bail out an alcoholic or help them pay their bills. You shouldn’t defend their actions publicly or justify their behavior. Although you can and should show love and compassion, financial help may just enable their addiction further.
Learn How to Help an Alcoholic and What the Recovery Process Looks Like
You aren’t born knowing exactly how to help an alcoholic family member. If you aren’t sure how to help, you’re not alone. One of the best things you can do is educate yourself about alcoholism and the recovery process.
You can learn a lot online, through books or through therapy. An addiction recovery center may offer a family therapy program or education classes specifically for family members. These are a great way to learn about how you can help a loved one as well as how your actions could enable their addiction. Just like addicts need to get professional help, their loved ones can benefit from professional support, therapy and education.
Help a Loved One Get Help
If your family member is ready to make a change, he or she may not know how to get started. Handling logistics can sometimes be the most important way for you to contribute to their sobriety. You might do some research to explore detox and rehab options in your area, or you could learn more about your loved one’s health insurance policy coverage. Sometimes, helping is as simple as driving them to a detox center.
Take Care of Yourself
As you research how to help an alcoholic family member, don’t forget to take care of yourself. Family members can also experience a lot of stress, and you need to make sure that you’re equipped to handle it. Taking time for self-care, therapy or just time on your own can help your own health and end up helping the whole family in the long run.
Finding the Right Recovery Program For a Loved One
Once you and your loved one are on board and ready to explore recovery options, it is time to find the best alcohol addiction treatment program. Sunflower Wellness Retreat in Kansas is a top option that delivers comprehensive, holistic care. Clients can expect all of the following as they work toward sobriety:
- Holistic detox
- Cognitive behavioral therapy
- Trauma therapy
- Relapse prevention
- Medication-assisted treatment as needed
If you want to know how to help an alcoholic, these tips can help. At Sunflower Wellness Retreat in Osawatomie, Kansas, you can also be involved in the recovery process through family therapy and education. Call 855.730.8825 to learn more and to find the recovery program that is right for your loved one.
