Living with an Alcoholic

If you have been living with an alcoholic for a while, you probably understand how seemingly impossible it can be to guide them to a suitable rehab facility. Going about it wrong can often do more harm than good, so it is vital to tread carefully and with a non-judgmental approach.

One of the initial and most essential steps includes discussing your concerns and expressing your desire to help your loved one beat alcoholism. As a concerned individual, how can you stage a successful intervention to accomplish these goals?

First, it is crucial to understand that your partner might face multiple obstacles to staying sober. Unlike other drugs, the problem with alcohol is that it is readily available, socially acceptable, and extremely cheap. Additionally, there are a lot of misconceptions about alcoholism in people’s minds, such as if someone can hold a steady job, they are not an alcoholic. The reality is that your partner does not have to keep drinking from the moment they wake up, lose their job, or start experiencing physical consequences just to be labelled as an alcoholic. Many may consider quitting it for other reasons, such as controlling their drinking or getting rid of the mental obsession related to drinking.

So when you hold an intervention with your partner, focus on communicating your concerns and sharing your feelings. Make sure to assure them that they are not alone. While the idea of expressing your feelings to your loved one may sound simple, it can often become hostile. To prevent this, seek help from a professional interventionist or counsellor.

In most cases, it is advised to let your alcoholic partner make the final call for themselves. The goal here is to help them see the problem and discover a new, alcohol-free way of living. Enticing or forcing them to join a rehab may not work in the long run and often leads to poor compliance to treatment. The decision to seek help must always be goal-driven and come from within.

If the intervention is successful and your partner agrees to seek help, the next step is to find a rehab that best suits their needs. Here are the steps to follow to help your loved one join a recovery centre:

• Conduct online research and shortlist potential options for rehabilitation. Among hundreds of rehabs to choose from, settle for one based on the 12 Steps Approach of Alcoholics Anonymous.
• Make a phone call to connect with the admissions representative who can guide you about the process of joining the rehab. They may conduct a pre-admission assessment and ask about the quick background history of your partner’s addiction.
• Enquire more about the rehab process, treatment cost, payment means, and more. Choosing a rehab that is rooted in recovery yet cost-effective at the same time can be the best choice.
• Arrive at the rehab with your loved one and begin the intake process. Some facilities offer it on a call or over a video meet for convenience.