In This Article
What is Alcoholism (Alcohol Use Disorder)?
Alcohol use disorder (AUD), which many call alcoholism, is a disorder that occurs when someone struggles to control their alcohol consumption. They tend to be preoccupied with drinking and they allow alcohol to control their lives. They might also experience physical withdrawal symptoms if they stop drinking.
Some people with AUD binge drink, drink even if it puts their safety at risk, or continue to drink despite it causing problems in their lives. This disorder can be mild or severe and can last for a short or long time.
Alcohol abuse harms other people, too. Anyone who cares about someone with AUD has likely struggled with whether to do or say something about the issue. Dealing with an alcoholic is always challenging.
How to Talk to an Alcoholic
Just like cancer, diabetes, or heart disease, addiction is a chronic disease. However, unlike physiological medical conditions, some people consider addiction as a moral failing. This is why people find it hard to talk about alcohol use disorder, or any other form of substance addiction, for that matter.
However, keep in mind that a person with alcohol addiction is just like any other human being - and they’re battling a chronic condition. Here are some things to keep in mind when talking to a person diagnosed with AUD:
Approach in a loving manner
Alcoholism can trigger aggressiveness, irritability, and violence. Your loved one may become irrational. The best thing to do is to approach them when they’re sober and do so lovingly. Talk to them privately, over lunch or dinner. This will help them avoid the embarrassment that comes with “the talk.”
Ask them about how they’re feeling and what’s going on in their life. Let them know you care.
Listen more
When your loved one decides to open up and confide in you, listen to them without judgment. Do not interrupt and do not criticize. Do not try to fix their problems for them. Listen to what they’re saying. You don’t have to agree with their behavior. Acknowledge their situation and make them feel safe.
There are reasons behind your loved one’s alcoholism. By listening more than talking, you might discover the reasons behind their actions. This can lead you to find more ways to help.
Be specific
When talking to a person with alcohol use disorder, don’t beat around the bush. You can be honest without blaming. Let the person know that you understand the challenges, pressure, and stress that they’re facing. At the same time, tell them the changes that you’ve noticed in them, especially the ones brought about by their drinking.
Be specific. Tell them you’ve seen them lose control of their alcohol consumption. Make them realize that alcohol addiction is affecting them and the people around them. While doing so, remember to always be kind.
Be supportive
People struggling with alcohol addiction expect insults and criticism from other people. They expect people to belittle and reject them, accusing them of doing wrong and failing at life. Doing these will drive them away, prompting them to drink more. When talking to a person with alcohol use disorder, take note of your tone of voice. Let them know that you’ll support them if they decide to get therapy or counseling.
Get support and education
The more you learn about alcoholism, the better. Before you talk to your loved one, speak to a counselor or healthcare professional about the disorder and get tips for what you can do to help the person you care about. You might consider attending an Al-anon meeting. There are many resources available to help people who care about someone with AUD.
Prioritize self-care
Dealing with an alcoholic drains you emotionally and physically. The strain is similar to coping with any other mental health issue. It’s important to take care of yourself and ensure you get the things you need to feel healthy. It’s also important to understand that your loved one’s disorder is not your fault. The only way you can help someone you care about long-term is to provide for your needs first.
Know What Treatment Options are Available for Alcohol Addiction
If you choose to confront the person you care about who has AUD, you must prepare several treatment options. You’ll want to suggest a few different treatment programs. Sometimes people who struggle with drinking don’t realize there are options available. They might assume treatment means a 30-day stint at an inpatient rehab facility or attendance at Alcoholics Anonymous meetings. These are options, but treatment facilities offer variety and have programs that suit many different scenarios.
Stage an Intervention
If information suggestions to enter treatment are unsuccessful, consider staging an intervention if someone you love has a drinking problem. At an intervention, the loved ones of someone with AUD confront the person about their drinking and share their thoughts and feelings on the disorder and getting treatment.
Participate in Treatment with Your Alcoholic Family Member
If your loved one decides to enter treatment for their alcohol problem, it’s important to support and encourage them. In many cases, you’ll enter counseling, too, which is another way of showing support. Battling AUD together with a friend or family member is much easier than dealing with it alone.
How to Deal With an Alcoholic Spouse
Living with an alcoholic spouse or partner is difficult. A romantic relationship with someone with AUD is one of the most challenging experiences you can have in life. Ending a relationship with an alcoholic partner or spouse might even seem impossible, but sadly, it’s sometimes the only solution.
Chances are if you’re in a relationship with someone with AUD, you’ve already spoken to the person about their drinking. Regardless of whether your partner has entered treatment or is nowhere near committing to recovery, you need to get support. Speaking to a counselor and/or attending Al-anon meetings are great places to learn more about the disorder and get the help you need to deal with the situation.
You should never feel as if you are to blame for your partner’s disorder. You should also not “cover” for your partner or enable them to live in denial.
Never let yourself be victimized, emotionally, physically, or in any other way by a loved one with AUD.
How to Deal With an Alcoholic Friend
Helping a friend with alcohol abuse and addiction is challenging because the boundaries of the relationship are usually much different than they are with a close family member. But this doesn’t mean you cannot offer encouragement and support to close friends who struggle with drinking.
Some of the things you can do to help an alcoholic friend include:
- Inviting them to participate in activities that don’t involve drinking. You can stop asking your friend if they want to go to the bar or out for cocktails, but you shouldn’t shut them out of your life. Plan non-drinking activities the two of you can enjoy together.
- Share your thoughts and feelings about your friend’s drinking, even if it’s an uncomfortable conversation. You shouldn’t be afraid to let your friend know you are concerned about their well-being. Be prepared for a defensive reaction, but an honest and compassionate approach might be what your friend needs. You might be the first person to bring up the issue with alcohol and by pointing it out, your friend might realize they are headed down a rough road.
- Know when enough is enough. Deciding to end a relationship with an alcoholic is difficult, but you should never tolerate abuse or mistreatment in a friendship.
How to Confront an Alcoholic
Often, confronting an alcoholic is the best way to help that person. If you decide to confront someone with a substance use problem, either alone or during an intervention, it’s important to:
- Seek the help of an addiction recovery specialist
- Carefully choose your timing and avoid stressful or other inopportune times
- Have a clear idea of how you feel and refuse to be manipulated by the person with AUD
- Know when to step away from the confrontation if things get heated. No amount of lecturing, arguing, nagging, or begging will make an addicted person stop using.
- Trust that your loved one will see reason and choose to stop hurting those he or she loves
- Practice self-care and get the help you need to heal
Addiction Treatment Options for Alcoholic Loved Ones
There are many treatment options available to people who care about someone with AUD. For example:
- Al-anon — helps people understand they are not alone and discuss their situations with peers — support groups offers support, guidance, education, and camaraderie.
- Alateen — age-appropriate support for young people who care about someone with AUD
- Family therapy: — brings everyone together to discuss various issues, offer support, and understand their role in helping the person with AUD
- Alcoholism education — the more you know about alcoholism the more confidence you’ll have in your decisions
- Individual therapy for help with issues such as codependency and enabling: Most people living with alcoholics have issues they are dealing with. Therapy helps them work through their challenges and better manage their lives.
When to Walk Away
If you care about someone with AUD, there might come a point at which your only option is to walk away from the relationship. It’s a difficult decision, but it is not impossible. It might even be what ultimately helps your loved one recover.
If you are thinking about walking away, you should not feel alone. Nearly everyone who cares about someone with AUD has considered it, and many have done it. Your feelings are normal, and your decision is justified. You can continue to seek counseling even if you have decided to walk away from your loved one.
When to walk away is a personal decision. There is no one-size-fits-all answer. However, if you are dealing with any of the following, it’s time to think about distancing yourself and getting help with your situation:
- You’re being physically, emotionally, or sexually abused
- Children are being physically, emotionally, or sexually abused - children of alcoholics have a higher risk of abuse
- Your loved one has put you or other people in danger because of their drinking
- Your spouse is habitually unfaithful because of his or her alcoholism
- Your loved one’s drinking has caused serious financial problems for you
Walking away is different for everyone but if abuse is involved, you must get yourself and your other family members to a safe place. You can make long-term decisions later, but you need to escape the abusive situation immediately before anyone is seriously harmed. If necessary, contact law enforcement, the domestic violence support hotline, the child abuse and neglect hotline, or an addiction hotline.
