It is interesting to articulate something that family members who have been harmfully affected by the alcoholism of another family member plainly do not comprehend. It seems that by shielding the alcohol dependent individual with falsehoods and deceit to those outside the family, these well-intentioned family members have in actual fact created a circumstance that makes it easier for the alcohol addicted person to persevere and press forward with his or her unsafe, destructive way of living.
Undeniably, rather than helping the alcohol addicted person and themselves, these family members have essentially become enablers who have involuntarily helped worsen the alcohol dependent individual’s drinking problem even more.
Perhaps the real downside of this is that the alcohol dependent person will continue drinking in a hazardous and irresponsible manner and go through various “alcohol side effects.” Some of these side effects include legal issues (such as getting arrested for one or more DWIs), diminished mental functioning, deteriorating relationships, serious financial problems, ill health, and employment difficulties.
The Probability of a Relapse is Real
According to the research findings and statistics on alcohol addiction, another key alcoholism issue concerns alcohol relapses. Relapses take place when an alcohol dependent individual has effectively gone through alcoholism rehab and then returns to drinking a number of weeks or months later. At first thought, this circumstance flies in the face of sound thinking and looks so implausible that it forces an individual to wonder why anyone who has gone through the misery of alcohol addiction can return to drinking a short while after successful alcohol rehab and in turn after reaching sobriety. There are, without a doubt, many conceivable reasons for this.
It should be highlighted, conversely that alcoholism research that has centered on the long-term consequences of alcohol dependency has demonstrated-proven that long after the alcoholic has discontinued his or her drinking, major transformations in the way in which the alcohol addicted individual’s brain works are still present. As a result, all a recovering alcohol dependent individual has to do to involve himself or herself in behaviors that correspond with the changes that have occurred in the brain is to begin drinking once again.
The Need for A Significant Lifestyle Change
There are other reasons why many recovering alcohol dependent persons return to drinking a few weeks or a few months after achieving sobriety. In accordance to the alcoholism research literature, to make an effective recovery, the alcohol addicted individual needs new ways of responding and thinking in order to deal more effectively with tough 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 abusively; or familiar songs, smells, or activities—all of these circumstances can bring about memories that can set off psychological tension or push hot buttons that influence the recovering alcoholic to engage in hazardous drinking once again. Regrettably, all of these situations may not only counteract long lasting alcohol recovery for the alcoholic but they can also result in relapse and as a result work against one’s sobriety.
The Good News: There’s a Lot of Hope for Lasting Sobriety
In an attempt to “protect” the family alcohol dependent individual, family members can in fact cause inadvertent destruction by enabling the destructive drinking behavior of the alcohol addicted person.
The addiction research literature highlights the fact that most people who successfully complete alcohol therapy experience at least one relapse. Alcoholics and their family members need to know this so that they do not get defeated or overwhelmed when a relapse takes place.
Happily, taking part in support groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous and follow-up counseling and education have resulted in more productive, long-term alcohol abuse and alcohol addiction therapeutic results, have helped diminish alcohol relapses, and have helped recovering alcoholics reach ongoing sobriety.
Filed under Health by on Nov 5th, 2009.
It is fascinating to mention something that family members who have been harmfully affected by the alcoholism of another family member apparently do not realize. It appears that by shielding the alcohol dependent individual with untruths and dishonesty to those outside the family, these well-intentioned family members have in essence created a circumstance that makes it easier for the alcohol dependent individual to carry on and move forward with his or her damaging, destructive existence.
In fact, instead of helping the alcoholic and themselves, these family members have in reality become enablers who have mistakenly helped negatively affect the alcoholic’s drinking problem even further.
Perhaps the real downside of this is that the alcoholic will continue drinking in an irresponsible and excessive manner and suffer from different “alcohol side effects.” Some of these side effects include diminished mental functioning, deteriorating relationships, serious financial problems, legal issues (such as getting arrested for one or more DWIs), employment difficulties, and ill health.
Relapses Can and Do Happen
According to the research literature and statistics on alcohol dependency, another key alcoholism issue concerns alcohol relapses. Relapses take place when an alcohol addicted person has fruitfully undergone alcohol dependency rehab and then resorts to drinking a number of weeks or months later. At first thought, this predicament flies in the face of commonsensical thinking and looks so improbable that it forces a person to question why anyone who has lived through the dejection of alcoholism can return to drinking a short while after effective alcohol rehabilitation and in turn after reaching recovery. There are, of course, many rational reasons for this.
It should be highlighted, nonetheless that alcohol addiction research that has centered on the lasting outcomes of alcohol dependency has demonstrated-proven that long after the alcoholic has quit his or her drinking, critical transformations in the way in which the alcoholic’s brain functions are still present. As a result, all a recovering alcohol dependent person has to do to involve himself or herself in actions that correspond with the modifications that have occurred in the brain is to begin drinking once again.
The Necessity for A Fundamental Lifestyle Change
There are other reasons why quite a lot of recovering alcohol dependent individuals return to drinking a few weeks or a few months after reaching sobriety. In accordance to the alcohol dependency research literature, to make an effective recovery, the alcohol addicted individual needs new ways of reacting and thinking in order to deal more successfully with tough alcohol-related situations that will take place.
Circumstances such as returning to the same alcohol addictive atmosphere or to the same geographic location; interacting once again with friends from the days when the alcohol dependent person was drinking abusively; or familiar songs, smells, or activities—all of these circumstances can bring forth memories that can prompt psychological stress or push hot buttons that influence the recovering alcohol dependent individual to engage in excessive drinking once again. Regrettably, all of these situations may not only negate enduring alcohol recovery for the alcoholic but they can also result in relapse and therefore go against one’s sobriety.
The Good News: There’s a Lot of Hope for a Lasting Recovery
In an attempt to “protect” the family alcoholic, family members can actually cause unintentional destruction by enabling the destructive drinking behavior of the alcohol dependent person.
The drug abuse research literature validates the fact that most individuals who successfully complete alcohol rehab go through at least one relapse. Alcohol addicted individuals and their family members need to know this so that they do not get down in the dumps or overwhelmed when a relapse happens.
Luckily, involvement in support groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous and follow-up counseling and training have resulted in more effective, long-term alcohol abuse and alcoholism therapeutic results, have helped decrease alcohol relapses, and have helped recovering alcohol dependent persons achieve long lasting alcohol recovery.
Filed under Health by on Sep 29th, 2009.
It is fascinating to bring up something that family members who have been negatively affected by the alcoholism of another family member apparently do not grasp. It appears that by protecting the alcohol addicted person with falsehoods and deceit to those outside the family, these well-intentioned family members have in reality created a circumstance that makes it easier for the alcoholic to persevere and move forward with his or her hurtful, detrimental way of living.
Clearly, instead of helping the alcohol addicted person and themselves, these family members have in truth become enablers who have involuntarily helped negatively affect the alcohol dependent individual’s drinking problem even more.
Perhaps the real downside of this is that the alcohol addicted person will continue drinking in an excessive and abusive manner and go through diverse “alcohol side effects.” Some of these side effects include diminished mental functioning, deteriorating relationships, serious financial problems, legal issues (such as getting arrested for one or more DWIs), employment difficulties, and ill health.
Relapses Can and Do Occur From Time to Time
According to the research findings and statistics on alcohol dependency, another key alcohol addiction issue has to do with alcohol relapses. Relapses take place when an alcohol dependent person has fruitfully gone through alcohol addiction rehab and then resorts to drinking a number of weeks or months later. At first thought, this situation seems contradictory to sound thinking and sounds so unrealistic that it forces a person to question why anyone who has experienced the wretchedness of alcohol addiction can return to drinking a short while after successful alcohol counseling and in turn after attaining sobriety. There are, to be sure, more than a few conceivable reasons for this.
It should be noted, conversely that alcoholism research that has focused on the lasting outcomes of alcoholism has shown that long after the alcohol addicted person has quit his or her drinking, critical changes in the way in which the alcohol dependent individual’s brain works are still present. As a result, all a recovering alcohol dependent individual has to do to involve himself or herself in behaviors that correspond with the modifications that have come about in the brain is to start drinking once again.
A Requirement for An Essential Lifestyle Modification
There are other reasons why several 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 alcoholic needs new ways of acting and thinking in order to deal more efficiently with difficult 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 days when the alcohol dependent individual was drinking irresponsibly; or familiar songs, smells, or activities—all of these situations can elicit memories that can prompt psychological stress or push hot buttons that influence the recovering alcoholic to engage in irresponsible drinking once again. Unfortunately, all of these circumstances may not only negate long lasting alcohol recovery for the alcohol dependent person but they can also result in relapse and as a result counteract one’s sobriety.
The Good News: First-Class Help is Available Almost Everywhere
In an attempt to “protect” the family alcohol dependent individual, family members can essentially cause inadvertent damage by enabling the negative drinking behavior of the alcohol addicted individual.
The addiction research literature highlights the fact that most individuals who effectively complete alcohol therapy experience at least one relapse. Alcohol dependent persons and their family members need to know this so that they do not get depressed or beleaguered when a relapse takes place.
Fortunately, participation in support groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous and follow-up therapy and training have resulted in more productive, ongoing alcohol abuse and alcohol addiction therapeutic results, have helped reduce alcohol relapses, and have helped recovering alcohol addicted individuals achieve long standing alcohol recovery.
Filed under Health by on Sep 28th, 2009.
It is worthy of note to point out something that family members who have been unfavorably affected by the alcoholism of another family member clearly do not know. It seems that by shielding the alcohol addicted person with lies and deceit to those outside the family, these well-intentioned family members have in actual fact created a situation that makes it easier for the alcohol dependent individual to persevere and go forward with his or her injurious, destructive way of living.
Without a doubt, instead of helping the alcohol dependent person and themselves, these family members have in reality become enablers who have involuntarily helped worsen the alcohol addicted person’s drinking problem even further.
Perhaps the real downside of this is that the alcoholic will continue drinking in an abusive and irresponsible manner and experience various “alcohol side effects.” Some of these side effects include diminished mental functioning, deteriorating relationships, serious financial problems, legal issues (such as getting arrested for one or more DWIs), employment difficulties, and ill health.
Relapses Can and Do Occur
According to the research literature and statistics on alcohol addiction, another key alcohol addiction issue concerns alcohol relapses. Relapses take place when an alcohol dependent individual has successfully gone through alcoholism therapy and then returns to drinking a number of weeks or months later. At first glance, this circumstance seems contradictory to logical thinking and seems so improbable that it forces one to question why anyone who has gone through the wretchedness of alcoholism can return to drinking a short while after effective alcohol rehab and in turn after achieving sobriety. There are, of course, more than a few credible reasons for this.
It should be mentioned, nonetheless that alcohol addiction research that has focused on the long-term outcomes of alcohol dependency has demonstrated-proven that long after the alcohol dependent individual has terminated his or her drinking, fundamental changes in the way in which the alcohol addicted individual’s brain works are still present. As a consequence, all a recovering alcohol dependent person has to do to involve himself or herself in actions that correspond with the modifications that have taken place in the brain is to engage in drinking again.
The Need for A Critical Lifestyle Change
There are additional reasons why numerous recovering alcoholics return to drinking a few weeks or a few months after achieving sobriety. In accordance to the alcoholism research literature, to make an effective recovery, the alcoholic needs new ways of acting and thinking in order to deal more successfully with tough 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 days when the alcohol addicted person was drinking abusively; or familiar songs, smells, or activities—all of these circumstances can elicit memories that can set off psychological tension or push hot buttons that influence the recovering alcohol dependent person to engage in abusive drinking once again. Regrettably, all of these situations may not only negate long-term alcohol recovery for the alcohol dependent person but they can also lead to relapse and consequently work against one’s alcohol recovery.
The Good News: There’s a Lot of Hope for Lasting Sobriety
In an attempt to “protect” the family alcohol dependent person, family members can in point of fact cause unplanned damage by enabling the unsafe drinking behavior of the alcoholic.
The addiction research literature confirms the fact that most individuals who effectively 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 depressed or stressed out when a relapse happens.
Happily, participation in support groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous and follow-up rehab and education have resulted in more successful, enduring alcohol abuse and alcoholism therapeutic results, have helped reduce alcohol relapses, and have helped recovering alcohol dependent persons reach long standing alcohol recovery.
Filed under Health by on Sep 27th, 2009. 1 Comment.