People who suffer from alcohol addiction often require outside intervention to change their lifestyle. With your help, you can give your loved one insight into how his or her choices is adversely affecting not only his or her own life, but also the lives of those closest to your loved one. It’s likely that your loved one won’t want to listen to you, or will deny that there is a problem. However, in the long run, your persistence and patience will pay off when your loved one realizes the need for substance abuse treatment.
Choose a Time for the Conversation
Choosing an appropriate time to talk to your loved one can make all the difference in the results of the conversation. Although you may be tempted to talk to your loved one about his or her substance abuse right away, it may be best to wait for a more opportune moment. Your loved one may be more receptive to hearing you out if the conversation follows a particularly unpleasant drinking experience. Wait for your loved one to already feel remorse from embarrassing him or herself while drunk, for example.
Maintain a Calm Voice
Those with substance abuse problems often become angry, defensive, or even verbally abusive when confronted with their problems. It’s important to stay calm, avoid raising your voice, and avoid judgmental statements.
List Your Concerns
During your conversation, tell your loved one how much you are worried about him or her and how the substance abuse problem is affecting daily life. Be as specific as possible. You could point to a negative performance review at work, for example, or mention that you don’t feel safe around him or her during a drunken episode. At Aurora Las Encinas Hospital in Pasadena, we understand the complexities of alcohol addiction and how it affects family members. Call us today at (888) 348-2165 to learn how our substance abuse treatment program can help your loved one. For more than 100 years, our medical professionals have offered a comprehensive range of behavioral healthcare treatment options.
