| Alcohol and Drug addiction has a devastating | | | | compromise an alcohol addict's journey to |
| effect not only on the individual addict but | | | | recovery. Observing these few rules will help |
| on the entire family as well. It has been | | | | pre-empt these triggers and increase the odds |
| proven time and again that successfully | | | | of the addict staying clean for a longer |
| overcoming addiction to alcohol and drugs | | | | time: If the occasion calls for alcohol to be |
| requires the collaborative effort of the | | | | served, inform the recovering alcoholic in |
| whole family and all those who are directly | | | | advance of the various non-alcoholic |
| affected. Residential rehab programs offer | | | | beverages that he can choose from. Avoid |
| addicts various programs that are especially | | | | serving any dishes that contain alcohol. |
| designed to alleviate the pain of withdrawal | | | | Steer clear of pubs and former favorite |
| symptoms and to provide constructive outlets | | | | hanging-out venues. Do not keep any alcohol |
| for their various addictive urges. One of the | | | | or alcoholic products within easy reach; |
| biggest set backs to long term relapse | | | | preferably do not keep any in the house at |
| prevention is the temptation to resort to old | | | | all. Do not be obsessive or continuously nag |
| habits once the recovered addict leaves the | | | | your spouse about the use of alcohol. Be |
| structured environment of the rehab program | | | | supportive of Alcoholics Anonymous meetings |
| and re-enters his old surroundings. Family | | | | and make sure your spouse attends all the |
| and spousal support is paramount during this | | | | meetings. Make it a point to keep all |
| phase of relapse prevention. In the absence | | | | doctor's appointments and do not give up on |
| of a solid support system, the former addict | | | | the therapy, no matter how frustrating and |
| will most likely slip back into addiction. | | | | tiring it may be. Try and keep to your former |
| Addiction is a Family Ailment Alcoholism is | | | | routines as much as possible, they provide |
| considered as a family disease in medical | | | | the recovering addict with much-needed |
| circles and in the community as large. The | | | | stability. Do not harbor resentment or ill |
| families of alcohol addicts are directly | | | | feelings for damage done or hurt caused |
| affected by the alcoholism either due to | | | | during the addictive phase. Letting it go and |
| abuse, neglect or sheer embarrassment of the | | | | learning to forgive and forget hastens the |
| alcoholic's behavior. They are constantly | | | | healing process. Recovering from addiction is |
| trying to gauge the alcoholic's mood and try | | | | a complex process. Expect set-backs along the |
| their best to alter their behaviors in an | | | | way and try not to hold it against the person |
| effort to control the amount of alcohol that | | | | who is also facing an uphill battle in his |
| the addict may imbibe. If a family party acts | | | | struggle against addiction. Make sure that |
| as an incentive to encourage drinking, they | | | | one addiction is not replaced by another. |
| would rather forego the party and cancel all | | | | Watch for changes in behavioral patterns. |
| plans rather than run the risk of initiating | | | | Signs of unexplained depression, anger or |
| another alcoholic binge. While many wives try | | | | anxiety could be silent signals that the |
| their best to be supportive and non-critical | | | | recovering addict may relapse into addiction. |
| of their partner's addiction, even a supposed | | | | Do not let the recovering addict stop |
| slight is enough for the addict to relapse | | | | medications without the doctor's advice. |
| into alcoholism. Role of Family in Relapse | | | | Remember that addiction is nobody's fault. It |
| Prevention Living with a recovering alcohol | | | | is an ailment much like other medical |
| addict is tough on their families who | | | | conditions and the addict should not be |
| constantly feel like they are walking on | | | | blamed or personally faulted. Unnecessary |
| eggshells. They have to measure everything | | | | blame and criticism can only provoke the |
| they do, think about where they go and censor | | | | victim into relapse and does nothing to help |
| what they eat at family meal times. Studies | | | | recovery. |
| show there are 17 common triggers that can | | | | |