Ambassador for Life

It is interesting to bring up something that family members who have been harmfully affected by the alcoholism of another family member apparently do not grasp. It seems that by shielding the alcohol addicted individual with untruths and deceitfulness to those outside the family, these well-intentioned family members have in actual fact created a condition that makes it easier for the alcoholic to persist and press forward with his or her harmful, devastating existence.

Undeniably, rather than helping the alcohol dependent individual and themselves, these family members have in truth become enablers who have inadvertently helped worsen the alcoholic’s drinking problem even further.

Perhaps the real downside of this is that the alcoholic will continue drinking in an irresponsible and hazardous manner and experience diverse “alcohol side effects.” Some of these side effects include employment difficulties, poor health, deteriorating relationships, diminished mental functioning, legal issues (such as getting arrested for one or more DUIs), and considerable financial problems.

The Probability of a Relapse is Real

According to the research literature and statistics on alcohol addiction, another key alcohol addiction issue concerns alcohol relapses. Relapses take place when an alcohol addicted individual has effectively gone through alcohol addiction therapy and then resorts to drinking a number of weeks or months later. At first glance, this predicament flies in the face of sound thinking and appears to be so unrealistic that it forces an individual to speculate why anyone who has gone through the dejection of alcohol addiction can return to drinking a short while after successful alcohol treatment and in turn after reaching sobriety. There are, of course, many reasonable reasons for this.

It should be highlighted, conversely that alcohol dependency research that has focused on the long-term effects of alcohol dependency has shown that long after the alcohol dependent individual has discontinued his or her drinking, key transformations in the way in which the alcohol dependent individual’s brain operates are still present. As a consequence, all a recovering alcoholic has to do to involve himself or herself in actions that correspond with the transformations that have taken place in the brain is to begin drinking once again.

The Need for An Important Lifestyle Transformation

There are other reasons why many recovering alcohol addicted persons return to drinking a few weeks or a few months after achieving sobriety. In accordance to the alcohol addiction research literature, to make an effective recovery, the alcohol dependent individual needs new ways of reacting and thinking in order to deal more competently with taxing alcohol-related situations that will take place.

Conditions such as returning to the same alcohol addictive atmosphere or to the same geographic location; interacting once again with friends from the time when the alcohol addicted individual was drinking irresponsibly; or familiar songs, smells, or activities—all of these situations can bring forth memories that can trigger psychological anxiety or push hot buttons that influence the recovering alcohol dependent person to engage in irresponsible drinking once again. Sadly, all of these situations may not only contradict long-term sobriety for the alcohol addicted person but they can also result in relapse and as a result negate one’s alcohol recovery.

The Good News: Quality Help is Readily Available

In an attempt to “protect” the family alcoholic, family members can in point of fact cause unintended destruction by enabling the negative drinking behavior of the alcohol dependent person.

The alcoholism research literature confirms the fact that most individuals who effectively complete alcohol therapy go through at least one relapse. Alcohol addicted individuals and their family members need to know this so that they do not get depressed or stressed out when a relapse takes place.

Fortunately, involvement in support groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous and follow-up therapy and training have resulted in more productive, ongoing alcohol abuse and alcohol dependency rehab results, have helped diminish alcohol relapses, and have helped recovering alcohol addicted persons achieve ongoing alcohol recovery.

It is interesting to articulate something that family members who have been adversely affected by the alcohol dependency of another family member obviously do not understand. It appears that by protecting the alcohol dependent individual with untruths and deceit to those outside the family, these well-intentioned family members have actually created a circumstance that makes it easier for the alcohol dependent person to carry on and advance with his or her negative, devastating daily life.

Indeed, rather than helping the alcohol addicted person and themselves, these family members have in fact become enablers who have unintentionally helped deteriorate the alcohol dependent individual’s drinking problem even more.

Perhaps the real downside of this is that the alcohol dependent individual will continue drinking in a hazardous and abusive manner and experience different “alcohol side effects.” Some of these side effects include deteriorating relationships, employment difficulties, ill health, diminished mental functioning, serious financial problems, and legal issues (such as getting arrested for one or more DWIs).

Relapses Can and Do Transpire

According to the research findings and statistics on alcohol dependency, another key alcoholism issue has to do with alcohol relapses. Relapses take place when an alcoholic has successfully gone through alcohol dependency treatment and then resorts to drinking a number of weeks or months later. At first thought, this predicament seems contradictory to logical thinking and seems so doubtful that it forces one to speculate why anyone who has experienced the wretchedness of alcohol dependency can return to drinking a short while after effective alcohol counseling and in turn after attaining sobriety. There are, to be sure, many credible reasons for this.

It should be noted, however that alcohol dependency research that has centered on the enduring outcomes of alcoholism has revealed that long after the alcohol dependent individual has terminated his or her drinking, major changes in the way in which the alcohol dependent individual’s brain functions are still present. As a result, all a recovering alcohol addicted individual has to do to involve himself or herself in behaviors that correspond with the transformations that have come about in the brain is to engage in drinking again.

The Necessity for A Fundamental Lifestyle Modification

There are other reasons why numerous recovering alcoholics return to drinking a few weeks or a few months after reaching sobriety. According to the alcohol addiction research literature, to make a successful recovery, the alcohol dependent person needs new ways of reacting and thinking in order to deal more successfully with difficult alcohol-related situations that will take place.

Conditions such as returning to the same alcohol addictive environment or to the same geographic location; interacting once again with friends from the time when the alcohol dependent person was drinking irresponsibly; or familiar songs, smells, or activities—all of these conditions can elicit memories that can trigger psychological stress or push hot buttons that influence the recovering alcohol addicted person to engage in irresponsible drinking once again. Unfortunately, all of these circumstances may not only negate long-term alcohol recovery for the alcohol dependent individual but they can also result in relapse and consequently go against one’s sobriety.

The Good News: There’s a Lot of Hope for Lasting Sobriety

In an attempt to “protect” the family alcohol addicted person, family members can essentially cause unplanned damage by enabling the unsafe drinking behavior of the alcohol addicted individual.

The addiction research literature highlights the fact that most individuals who effectively complete alcohol rehabilitation experience at least one relapse. Alcohol dependent individuals and their family members need to know this so that they do not get dejected or stressed out when a relapse occurs.

Luckily, involvement in support groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous and follow-up therapy and training have resulted in more successful, ongoing alcohol abuse and alcohol dependency rehab outcomes, have helped decrease alcohol relapses, and have helped recovering alcohol dependent persons reach enduring sobriety.

It is interesting to point out something that family members who have been harmfully affected by the alcohol dependency of another family member evidently do not understand. It appears that by protecting the alcohol addicted individual with falsehoods and deceitfulness to those outside the family, these well-intentioned family members have in reality created a situation that makes it easier for the alcohol addicted individual to persist and move forward with his or her unsafe, detrimental way of living.

Indeed, instead of helping the alcohol addicted individual and themselves, these family members have in reality become enablers who have inadvertently helped negatively affect the alcoholic’s drinking problem even more.

Perhaps the real downside of this is that the alcoholic will continue drinking in a hazardous and abusive manner and experience a range of “alcohol side effects.” Some of these side effects include employment difficulties, legal issues (such as getting arrested for one or more DWIs), ill health, deteriorating relationships, serious financial problems, and diminished mental functioning.

The Probability of a Relapse is Real

According to the research findings and statistics on alcohol addiction, another key alcohol addiction issue involves alcohol relapses. Relapses take place when an alcoholic has effectively gone through alcohol dependency treatment and then returns to drinking a number of weeks or months later. At first glance, this predicament flies in the face of common sense and sounds so unrealistic that it forces an individual to question why anyone who has experienced the dreadfulness of alcohol addiction can return to drinking a short while after successful alcohol rehabilitation and in turn after achieving sobriety. There are, of course, many likely reasons for this.

It should be mentioned, conversely that alcohol addiction research that has centered on the long standing effects of alcohol dependency has demonstrated-proven that long after the alcohol dependent individual has stopped his or her drinking, key modifications in the way in which the alcohol addicted individual’s brain functions are still present. As a result, all a recovering alcohol addicted person has to do to involve himself or herself in actions that correspond with the changes that have taken place in the brain is to start drinking again.

The Need for A Radical Lifestyle Change

There are even more reasons why quite a few recovering alcohol dependent individuals return to drinking a few weeks or a few months after reaching sobriety. According to the alcohol addiction research literature, to make a successful recovery, the alcohol dependent individual needs new ways of responding and thinking in order to deal more effectively with difficult alcohol-related circumstances that will take place.

Conditions such as returning to the same alcohol addictive environment or to the same geographic location; interacting once again with friends from the time when the alcoholic was drinking excessively; or familiar songs, smells, or activities—all of these situations can bring forth memories that can trigger psychological tension or push hot buttons that influence the recovering alcohol addicted person to engage in abusive drinking once again. Regrettably, all of these circumstances may not only contradict enduring sobriety for the alcohol addicted individual but they can also lead to relapse and therefore short-circuit one’s alcohol recovery.

The Good News: There’s a Lot of Hope for Lasting Sobriety

In an attempt to “protect” the family alcoholic, family members can essentially cause unintentional destruction by enabling the destructive drinking behavior of the alcohol addicted person.

The drug abuse research literature validates the fact that most individuals who successfully complete alcohol rehabilitation go through at least one relapse. Alcohol addicted individuals and their family members need to know this so that they do not get defeated or overwhelmed when a relapse occurs.

Luckily, involvement in support groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous and follow-up treatment and training have resulted in more productive, enduring alcohol abuse and alcoholism treatment results, have helped diminish alcohol relapses, and have helped recovering alcohol dependent individuals attain enduring sobriety.