Alcohol Relapse, Alcoholism, and Enabling
It is worthy of note to articulate something that family members who have been unfavorably affected by the alcohol addiction of another family member evidently do not know. It appears that by shielding the alcohol addicted person with falsehoods and deceitfulness to those outside the family, these well-intentioned family members have actually created a condition that makes it easier for the alcohol dependent individual to persevere and go forward with his or her harmful, devastating daily life.
To be sure, instead of helping the alcohol addicted person and themselves, these family members have in reality become enablers who have unintentionally helped negatively affect the alcohol dependent individual’s drinking problem even further.
Perhaps the real downside of this is that the alcohol addicted individual will continue drinking in an excessive and irresponsible manner and experience a range of “alcohol side effects.” Some of these side effects include legal issues (such as getting arrested for one or more DUIs), employment difficulties, considerable financial problems, poor health, diminished mental functioning, and deteriorating relationships.
The Chances of a Relapse are Real
According to the research findings and statistics on alcohol addiction, another key alcohol dependency issue involves alcohol relapses. Relapses take place when an alcohol dependent person has successfully undergone alcohol addiction treatment and then resorts to drinking a number of weeks or months later. At first glance, this situation flies in the face of rational thinking and appears to be so implausible that it forces a person to wonder why anyone who has experienced the terror of alcohol addiction can return to drinking a short while after successful alcohol therapy and in turn after reaching sobriety. There are, for sure, many rational reasons for this.
It should be mentioned, conversely that alcoholism research that has centered on the lasting effects of alcohol addiction has demonstrated-proven that long after the alcoholic has quit his or her drinking, critical modifications in the way in which the alcoholic’s brain works are still present. As a result, all a recovering alcohol addicted individual has to do to involve himself or herself in behaviors that correspond with the changes that have occurred in the brain is to start drinking once again.
The Need for A Crucial Lifestyle Change
There are additional reasons why quite a few recovering alcohol dependent persons return to drinking a few weeks or a few months after attaining sobriety. According to the alcoholism research literature, to make an effective recovery, the alcohol dependent individual needs new ways of responding and thinking in order to deal more successfully with difficult alcohol-related circumstances that will take place.
Situations such as returning to the same alcohol addictive environment or to the same geographic location; interacting once again with friends from the time when the alcohol dependent individual was drinking irresponsibly; or familiar songs, smells, or activities—all of these circumstances can bring about memories that can prompt psychological stress or push hot buttons that influence the recovering alcohol addicted person to engage in irresponsible drinking once again. Regrettably, all of these circumstances may not only contradict long lasting alcohol recovery for the alcoholic but they can also lead to relapse and consequently negate one’s alcohol recovery.
The Good News: First-Class Help is Available Almost Everywhere
In an attempt to “protect” the family alcohol dependent individual, family members can in point of fact cause unintentional harm by enabling the unsafe drinking behavior of the alcohol dependent individual.
The substance abuse research literature highlights the fact that most individuals who effectively complete alcohol rehabilitation experience at least one relapse. Alcoholics and their family members need to know this so that they do not get down in the dumps or beleaguered when a relapse occurs.
Happily, involvement in support groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous and follow-up counseling and education have resulted in more successful, long standing alcohol abuse and alcohol dependency therapeutic outcomes, have helped decrease alcohol relapses, and have helped recovering alcohol dependent individuals attain long standing alcohol recovery.
Related How To Articles:
- What I Learned About Drug Abuse and Alcoholism in High School
- What I Learned About Alcohol and Drug Addiction in High School
- What I Learned About Alcohol Dependency and Drug Addiction in High School
- Shocking Discoveries About Alcohol and Drug Abuse in High School
- A Scholarly Investigation about Alcoholism Symptoms, Alcoholism Statistics, and Alcoholic Symptoms
Tags: alcohol abuse, alcohol addiction, alcohol dependency, alcohol rehab, alcohol treatment, alcoholism, drinking problems, enabling, sobriety
