Addicted family member?!
Question: What would be the most effective way to help a family member who drinks way too much? Things are getting out of hand, losing control of emotions, lashing out on children (says she can't handle them anymore, doesn't want them), getting into unhealthy relationships with men, crying and insulting family for not being there for her. Family thinking of doing intervention and having everyone confront her...do you think her family should do this or professional or what?
Answers: What would be the most effective way to help a family member who drinks way too much? Things are getting out of hand, losing control of emotions, lashing out on children (says she can't handle them anymore, doesn't want them), getting into unhealthy relationships with men, crying and insulting family for not being there for her. Family thinking of doing intervention and having everyone confront her...do you think her family should do this or professional or what?
Well, yes, an intervention is a good idea and you should DEFINATLY have a professional there who is experienced and can properly prep you guys and also mediate the intervention. But, if you cannot get one for financial or legistical reasons there is a website that can help you (but you still should have a not emotinally involved 3rd party there to "run" it because then she doesnt feel attacked by her loved ones and there is someone that is considered a fair mediator) but anyways, if you've ever seen the TV show "Intervention" on (i think A&E) they have there tv show's website that will explain to you how to do an intervention and they also have resources you can look up that you might be able to use in your community.
BUT, before you go into this you have to know that addiction is an insidous and powerful disease and very often the alchoholic/addict will resist any attempt at taking away their substance. If THEY are not ready to quite or dont even want to admit their an addict to begin with, then sadly their is little you can do!!
You still can support them and continue to let them know your there for them and you love them but if they refuse to get help then you HAVE to (no matter how painful) worry about yourself and set limits with that person on what you will and what you wont accept. I know the tendancy is to reach out, take care of them, etc...but in reality this is the worst thing you can do for them (and yourself!) Obviously as a mother you and her loved one's also need to make sure her kids are okay and monitor that as much as possible.
I am telling you all this as an addict myself. I have been clean for over 4 years now but i have to work every day (sometimes every minute LOL) to resist the overwheliming obsession to use, so it is a long hard road for an addict/alcholic but it can be done!
This person has NO IDEA how lucky she is to have a loving support system that wants to help her!! Very few addicts have that and if she decides to get straight that support will be invaluable to her recovery but just be careful because an addict in the throws of her addiction WILL use that love against you, they'll drain it for all it's worth. Not because they dont love you or want to hurt you just because the drug (or drink) just takes over and it runs her entire life and every decision she'll make!
So, good luck with this but just keep the focus on YOU and dont allow yourself to be manipulated by guilt trips etc...
I'll pray for her!!
Yes, you should do intervention. Drinking is very serious.
Read this link. http://www.medicinenet.com/alcohol_abuse...