Family Alcoholism

Surviving Family Alcoholism

One of the most devastating types of alcoholism is family alcoholism. This may include children of alcoholics, or even a husband or wife dealing with their alcoholic spouse. The condition of alcoholism can be devastating to families, and even if the sober family members detach from the alcoholic the emotional trauma suffered can last for years.

It is often a good idea to seek help as a family, because the non-alcoholics may need counseling themselves. Al-Anon is a support group for family members of alcoholics. Alateen is affiliated with Al-Anon, but is a group for teens. These groups can teach you how to deal with an alcoholic household.

Because addiction can be genetic in nature, there may be several members in alcoholic families who have a problem. Some of them may be cross-addicted, which means they have other addictions in addition to alcohol. This could be food, cigarettes, drugs, sex, shopping – the list of possible cross-addictions goes on and on. It is especially hard for sober individuals to thrive in a family that has multiple alcoholics. For example, imagine the child who watches and hears their alcoholic parent or both parents drinking alcohol then fighting. This is without a doubt very traumatic and frightening for the child, no matter how old they happen to be.

Escaping their families alcoholism is often the goal of older kids and teens who have grown up with one or both parents drinking. The hard part is avoiding the temptation to drink, especially when the child is of legal drinking age and all his or her friends are doing it. With a genetic predisposition to alcoholism, total sobriety is recommended.

If this is not something you want to do, monitor your drinking habits carefully for signs of alcoholism. Also, children of alcoholics may need counseling to forgive their parents or even learn to confront them when necessary. Marriage counseling may be needed for the alcoholic husband and his wife, or vice versa.

The good news is that help is available for family alcoholism. There are rehab clinics, outpatient programs, Alcoholics Anonymous meetings and even innovative new medications for alcoholics. Whether the alcoholism spouse is the problem or there is more than one problematic drinker in the family it is important to stress there is help for this disease. Sometimes, a person with a drinking problem has to be told by their doctor that their health is in jeopardy before they will consider treatment, or they have to hit 'rock bottom.' This is a point that is different for every addict, but it is a time when they feel they cannot sink any lower mentally and/or physically and by this time are ready to seek help.

 

 

 

 

Technorati Tags: Alcoholism Treatment, Dealing With An Alcoholic, Family Alcoholism

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