If you can make that task a little more manageable, your loved one is more likely to take advantage of the work you’ve put into their well-being. Often they struggle with depression or anxiety and drink as a way to self-medicate. It is important to acknowledge that you think there may be an underlying mental health issue that results in drinking. Try not to sound accusatory, especially if the person may not know they suffer from depression or anxiety. Instead, ask them gently if they think there could be a contributing cause to their drinking.

Friends, roommates, or other family members who live with someone with AUD may also find themselves blaming the person or trying to control their drinking behaviors. This can put blame on the person instead of the disease. Supporting a loved one with alcohol use disorder (AUD) through their addiction and even recovery can be challenging, yet social support is necessary for recovery. Sharing a home with them adds a whole new signs you were roofied layer of complexity. Millions of readers rely on HelpGuide.org for free, evidence-based resources to understand and navigate mental health challenges.

An online sobriety support group might be a helpful addition to care. Al-Anon and Alateen – Support groups for friends and families of problem drinkers. Try seeking help from a sports coach, family doctor, therapist, or counselor. Expose your teen to healthy hobbies and activities, such as team sports, Scouts, and after-school clubs to discourage alcohol use. The more you understand about the disorder, the better. It’s also important to know when a situation could escalate and/or threaten your safety and well-being or cyclobenzaprine mixed with alcohol that of another family member.

So, take a step back and let them deal with the after-effects of their addictive behavior. It starts with a beer, a glass of wine or a cocktail. You watch as your family member or friend slowly changes with each tip of the bottle.

Living with Someone with Alcohol Addiction: How to Support Them — and Yourself

Additionally, seeking therapy, either as a family, by yourself, or both, can also help you navigate recovery with your loved one. Supporting someone you love, who’s being treated for unhealthy alcohol use, is a lifelong process because recovery is a lifelong process. To learn more about the treatment process and explore treatment options at one of American Addiction Centers facilities, reach out to an admissions navigator at . They can help you not only explore therapy options for your spouse and your entire family but also identify tailored treatment group activities for substance abuse programs to meet the unique needs of your loved one.

1. This could include seeing a therapist, putting physical distance between you and your loved one, or having a trusted friend to call when things get tough.
2. For many, this means there is a point at which they must walk away from someone with an alcohol problem, no matter how painful it is for everyone.
3. If the alcoholic is a parent, the effects of the situation will be lasting.
4. You can help your loved one find healthier ways to reduce their stress level by encouraging them to exercise, confide in others, meditate, or adopt other relaxation practices.

Health Challenges

However, for someone with an alcohol dependence, that expectation may turn out to be unreasonable. If the person is incapable of even being honest with themselves, it may not be reasonable to expect them to be honest with you. You do not have to put up with unacceptable behavior in your life. Keep in mind that someone with alcohol dependence usually goes through a few stages before they are ready to make a change. Until they begin to contemplate quitting, any actions you take to “help” them quit will often be met with resistance.

Encouraging your loved one to get help

But it’s important to remember that you still have a major impact on the choices that your child makes, especially during their preteen and early teen years. Working with a therapist who understands alcoholism and the toll it takes on families and who knows how to help those who are codependent is very helpful to people living with alcoholics. For most people, a combination of treatment options offers the best chance at recovery. Sometimes there isn’t anything else you can do to help your loved one. Having a plan to remove yourself from the situation is an important step in taking care of yourself and other members of your family.

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Regardless of where the person with AUD is in their recovery or addiction, it’s important for loved ones to consider getting support for themselves. Help the person address the problems that led to them drinking. If your loved one drank because of boredom, anxiety, or loneliness, for example, those problems will still be present once they’re sober.