17th Apr 2010
How to Help an Alcoholic to Stop Drinking
Is it possible to help an alcoholic to quit drinking? What are some things you can do to push the alcoholic in your life to make a real change? Is it even possible to do so?
In a lot of cases, people who have struggled with an alcoholic in their life will tell you that it is not really possible to force another person to do anything. Of course they are basically correct in stating this, but that does not mean that you have absolutely zero impact and influence. You can still make a difference, even though you may not be able to force a change.
So what can you do regarding help for alcoholics? Well, here are some suggestions that might guide you a bit, though be warned that there is no magic bullet:
1) Go to Al-anon meetings and learn more about the disease model of addiction. This might seem like it will not do anything directly, but it is probably the most important step for you to take. Not only will you learn what will and will not make a difference when it comes to your own behavior, but you will also learn how to protect yourself emotionally from the alcoholic in your life.
2) Set healthy limits and boundaries. If you are not part of the solution in dealing with the alcoholic then you are part of the problem. Once you learn how to set healthy limits then you are part of the solution, and you will no longer contribute directly to the alcoholic and their own self destruction. This is about protecting yourself and keeping your own sanity in check. Very important.
3) Encourage professional help. They promise that they will stop drinking some day, but really you need to push them to take real action and go to rehab. Anything less than this and they are probably just doing more manipulation. Demand real results, not empty promises.
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