How To Talk To A Loved One About Alcohol Addiction

It is never easy seeing someone you love struggle with alcohol addiction. Although you want to talk to them about it, you may not know how to approach the subject. You’re wondering if there is a right and a wrong way of starting a conversation. If you currently find yourself in this situation, the first thing you should do is educate yourself about addiction. It’s important to know as much as you can about the disease and why it’s taking over your loved one’s life. Learning and understanding will ensure a productive conversation, free of judgement and misinformation. It will take time, but soon, you will be able to encourage your loved one to seek professional addiction recovery in South Florida.

The Signs Of Addiction

Alcohol addiction can sometimes be hard to recognize. How do you know if your loved one has a problem or if their drinking habit is ordinary? With no specific amount that constitutes as an alcohol problem, you may struggle to recognize the signs. If your intuition is telling you that there is a problem, and you feel your loved one will benefit from professional addiction recovery in South Florida, look for the following warning signs. In most cases, your loved one will:

• Drink more frequently
• Switch to a stronger drink (i.e., wine to liquor)
• Neglect their hobbies and interests
• Neglect their work and responsibilities
• Change their mood/behavior 
• Often be hungover or sick from drinking
• Get in trouble with the law
• Lie to you about their drinking
• Hide the fact that they drink

Essentially, you know there is a problem if their alcohol consumption starts to affect their life. And, despute the negative consequences, your loved one continues to drink. Sometimes, they continue because they simply can’t stop. When you see these signs, understand that there is a problem. 

The good news is alcohol addiction is a treatable disease. There are many programs available for individuals to relinquish their addiction and get on the road to recovery.

At The Sands Treatment Center, we offer the following programs that your loved one may benefit from.   

• Regular outpatient treatment (OP) and intensive outpatient treatment (IOP)
• Outpatient rehab
• 12 step program
• 12 step therapy for professionals
• Holistic cognitive behavior therapy (CBT)

The program you choose will depend on the extent of your loved one’s problem, their finances, and schedule flexibility. You can talk to a member of our staff to learn more about each program. 

How To Start A Conversation

Once you have researched the disease and have a better understanding of what your loved one is going through, it may be time to have a conversation. When you talk to them, it’s important to choose your words carefully, as you don’t want them to get angry and lash out or deny that they have a problem. Plan out what you want to say and even how to say it. Some helpful tips are:

• Think about your main concerns with your loved one’s drinking habit. Write down all the ways that it affects you.
• Talk about their health and how their drinking habit is detrimental to their physical and emotional wellbeing.
• Don’t use labels like “alcoholic” or “addict.” People get defensive with labels.  
• Remember to sympathize and don’t place blame or point the finger at your loved one.
• Don’t make demands. You want them to go somewhere for addiction recovery in South Florida, but you don’t want to force them into it.

Other important considerations: timing is everything. Talk to them when they are sober and not planning to drink soon. Location is also important, as you don’t want to be surrounded by distractions or interrupted during your conversation.

How To Encourage Someone To Seek Help

Very few people have the ability and willpower to overcome their alcohol problem on their own. The best recourse is to visit an addiction treatment center in South Florida, like The Sands Treatment Center. Let your loved one know all the benefits of receiving professional help, such as medical guidance and support. Remind them that they aren’t alone and that you (and our staff) will be with them every step of the way.

It won’t be easy for either of you, as this is a long journey that may have lots of road bumps along the way. However, with hard work and commitment, your loved one will be able to overcome their addiction and start a life of sobriety. For addiction recovery in South Florida, contact The Sands Treatment Center. Call (844) 200-2509 for 24/7 support.