How Does Alcoholism Affect Friends and Families?
Alcoholism – With it comes severe, detrimental penalties for the drinker. Yet, what many overlook are the effects of alcohol on family and friends.
Spouses, siblings, parents, children, friends and loved ones are all adversely affected by the destructive choices made by alcoholics. They bear witness to these destructive decisions, sometimes on a daily basis, and are incapable of changing them. It can happen to any family, anywhere. Even Julie Andrews recently revealed her troubles with an alcoholic father while growing up in England. Those with a close relationship to an alcoholic also need support so they can maintain their sanity while positively encouraging their loved one’s recovery process. There are groups, such as Al-Anon and Alateen doing just that – creating a community and helping others who are dealing with alcoholism indirectly.
Dealing with the unpredictable roller-coaster ride of heavy drinking and its aftermath can be traumatizing. Personal recovery is possible, though it does take a concentrated effort. Al-Anon uses the original twelve steps from Alcoholics Anonymous, but adapts them to be relevant to those who deal with the negative effects of alcoholism and are not alcoholics themselves.
Just as AA urges alcoholics to admit that they had become powerless over alcohol, the first step for family and friends is to accept that they had no power to force someone else to stop drinking. The choice is not theirs to make. These poor choices aren’t their fault, either. Making threats, planning schemes, and begging are all futile efforts. Feeling like it is their responsibility to make their loved ones change their habits and choices can cause exhaustion, stress, and depression.
The first step helps them to let go of the alcoholic’s problem. It shows them the power of their own actions and choices over their own lives. By focusing on how to be their own personal best, they’ll start to find solace by getting their own lives into a manageable state again.
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