Loving someone who is struggling with an alcohol addiction is not easy and comes with its fair share of grief and pain. It is difficult to watch someone you love make poor choices and even more difficult if these choices are affecting everyone around them. Here are a few things to keep in mind as you walk this path with your loved one:
1. Don’t blame yourself
This is not your fault and you cannot pretend that it is. Blaming yourself will only lead to unnecessary guilt that does not help you or them. Ultimately, they will have to take responsibility for their own actions in order to effect long lasting change.
2. Don’t try to fix them
You are not equipped nor in an appropriate position to cure your loved one of their struggle. Trying to do so could seriously damage your relationship and could even make matters worse. Most likely, professional help will be required. As their support system, the best thing you can do is guide them to the available resources that can help them effectively.
3. Don’t excuse their behavior
There is likely a strong temptation to make excuses for the poor choices of your loved ones. You may not want others to think negatively of them and you may want to protect their reputation, however making excuses may only help to cover up a deep rooted issue and delay the intervention needed to overcome the addiction.
4. Don’t have unrealistic expectations
While it would be nice if everyone lived up to our expectation, this is hardly ever the case. Placing expectations on your loved one will likely only lead to frustration for you and them. They will feel like they have let you down and you will be disappointed that success did not come how or when you expected. Try to encourage your loved on their journey with each baby step of progress along the way.
5. Don’t delay getting help
Now is the time to seek professional help to prevent further harm! Let your loved one know there is help available. You can talk to a professional at Solace Asia today by calling 012.885.4686.
