Many people know problem drinkers. Even more know full-blown alcoholics. However, the alcoholic in your life might not be able to admit that they fit the clinical definition.
You might want to get the person in your life who’s struggling with this problem into alcoholism rehab. You probably can’t do that, though, until they admit that they have an issue with booze.
Let us talk about what you can do to help if you have an alcoholic in denial in your life.
Set Up an Intervention
If you have someone in your life who you’re certain is an alcoholic or at least a problem drinker, and they won’t admit either of those things, then it’s probably time for what the therapists call some tough love. You may have to set up an intervention for this person.
That involves you and everyone else in the alcoholic’s life who cares about them to sit them down and have a serious talk about their drinking. They might not like hearing some of what you have to say, but if you’re clear that this is coming from a place of love, they may at least be willing to listen.
Let Them Know All of the Specific Ways Their Drinking is Hurting You and Others
Some alcoholics can’t see how serious of a problem they have until you point out all of the many ways that alcohol is hurting them and everyone around them as well. When you have an intervention, you can go around the circle and have each person talk about specific instances where this individual’s drinking caused problems.
Their child might talk about a time when a parent didn’t pick them up from soccer practice because they were drunk and passed out. Their boss might mention times when this person didn’t show up for work or the many times they were late. You may bring up DUIs this individual got and people they hurt by smashing their car into them.
Be Clear that You Still Love Them and Care for Them
You want to confront the person, but make sure to let them know that you still care about them and sincerely love them. You can tell them that you’re all there for them, and if you didn’t care, you’d let the situation continue on as it has been.
Hopefully, the alcoholic will come to see that you’re not lashing out at them for no reason. If they can take a step back from their situation and look at their behavior objectively, taking emotion out of the equation for the moment, you should see some positive results. Only when a person has become an irredeemable alcoholic will they not be willing to accept help.
There are always situations where that happens, but more times than not, the person who’s struggling is willing to listen to reason. You can convince them that they should take some time and work on themselves, either through an inpatient alcohol treatment program or through an outpatient one.
