8 Ways To Support A Loved One Battling Alcoholism Alcoholism, which is also known as alcohol use disorder, is one of the most common problems in the UK. In fact, it's not something that's only common in the UK, but it affects people all over the world. It's a mental condition that changes the way your brain functions. Since drinking is a socially accepted activity in most of the countries across the globe, it's hard for a person to identify when alcohol use becomes alcohol abuse. Consumption of this addictive beverage is quite common during festivals, family get-togethers, corporate events, and social gatherings. But no matter how common it is, it doesn't change the fact that regular consumption of alcohol can lead to alcoholism.
Signs & Symptoms of Alcoholism
Alcohol addicts lock themselves in the room and drink alone They consume an excessive amount of alcohol to feel good They experience frequent mood swings like becoming violent when they try to stop drinking They often fail to understand the significance of personal hygiene They miss work or college due to their drinking habit They make excuses to avoid social gatherings They continue to consume alcohol even if it affects their health and professional life They try to hide their behaviour from their loved ones, co-workers, and friends because they feel guilty about it They can't control their drinking urge They experience withdrawal symptoms like vomiting, nausea, and shaking when they try to avoid alcohol
People with alcoholism often struggle with other mental conditions like stress, anxiety, and depression, etc., which worsens their health. Therefore, early intervention and seeking quality treatment can have a tremendous positive impact on your life. It will not only help you in living a sober life but will also protect your relationships with your loved ones and friends. Alcoholism not only affects a person's health but it robs of their relationships. Since your loved ones are your most prized possessions, you should try to defeat alcoholism. However, if it is not you but your loved one who is struggling with this problem, then you should try to support them. Here's how to help a loved one suffering from alcohol use disorder.
Gather Information About Alcoholism Before you take any concrete step in this direction, make sure that you have a basic understanding of what exactly is alcohol abuse disorder. Until you know what kind of problems it can create for your spouse or child for that matter, you won't be able to help them. So, grab your laptop and start reading about this problem on the internet. Make sure that you refer all the vital sources to get authentic information. Besides, you can also read a book on this problem to get the comprehensive information. Once you are fully aware of what kind of problem it is, you can surely offer the right help to your loved one.
Have a Positive Attitude It's not easy to see your loved one suffering from such a debilitating problem; however, if you want to help them, you must remain positive. You can't bring the change in their life if you only lose hope in the first place. It's true that the family members of the addicts go through a lot, but no matter what they have to remain positive in all the circumstances.
Make Them Believe That They Have a Problem Recovering from addiction can become way too easier for your loved one, once they accept the fact that they have a problem. Therefore, you must talk to your loved one. Once they accept that they have a problem, they will start working toward the recovery process.
Show Your Concern It is essential for you to show your concern to your loved one when it comes to helping them. Whether it's your child or husband, make sure you talk to them in such a fashion that makes them feel that you are concerned about their health. Use statements like, "I love you a lot, and I can't see you in this condition." Tell them clearly that you want to help them recover from their condition.
Be Polite While Talking To Them Since the behaviour of the addicts keeps on changing from time to time, you might lose your temper once in a while; however, you should try your level best to avoid such behaviour. One of the best ways to avoid getting angry at them is to put yourself in their shoes. It will help you realise that whatever they are doing is unintentional.
If you lose your temper, they will stop listening to you, which will create difficulties for you. Therefore, whenever you approach them, make sure you have a smile on your face.
Spend More Time With Them Try to spend more time with your loved one if you want to stop them from drinking. With a little bit of practice, you can make it happen. All you have to do is sharpen your time management skills so that you can finish off rest of the work as well. If you leave them alone, they will get back to drinking. Therefore, it's better to be with them the more you can. For example, you can spend time with your loved one while having meals, especially dinners. Similarly, if you go for a morning walk, tell your loved one to accompany you. It will not only have a positive impact on their physical and mental health but will also increase their interest in such activities. You can also perform aerobic exercises with them because it helps in recovering from addiction.
Encourage Them To Learn A New Skill One of the best ways to divert the attention of an addict from drinking is to encourage them to learn a new skill such as painting, singing, or swimming. It will help them remain occupied.
Convince Them For Seeking Treatment In case your loved one is going through an extremely tough phase, then it's better to convince them to seek treatment. Nothing can prove to more helpful then seeking professional help when it comes to recovering from addiction. Although there are several treatments for alcoholism: however, the kind of support that a patient gets in a rehab centre is hard to find anywhere else. So, if you are from a city like London, you can take your loved one to an addiction treatment centres like Charter Harley Street, Priory Group, and Promises, etc. Whether you believe it or not, but seeking quality treatment can bring a world of difference in your loved one's condition. Source: http://clamonnaturalhealth.com/8-ways-to-support-a-loved-one-battling-alcoholism