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 know. It seems that by protecting the alcohol dependent individual with lies and dishonesty to those outside the family, these well-intentioned family members have in reality created a circumstance that makes it easier for the alcohol dependent person to carry on and press forward with his or her negative, detrimental way of living. Unfortunately, what applies to family relationships also applies to dating relationships.

Undeniably, rather than helping the alcoholic and themselves, these family members and dating partners have in truth become enablers who have inadvertently helped deteriorate the alcohol addicted person’s drinking problem even more.

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

Relapses Can and Do Occur

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 individual has effectively undergone alcohol addiction therapy and then resorts to drinking a number of weeks or months later. At first glance, this circumstance seems contradictory to common sense and looks so improbable that it forces one to speculate why anyone who has gone through the horrors of alcohol dependency can return to drinking a short while after effective alcohol rehabilitation and in turn after achieving sobriety. There are, for sure, more than a few rational reasons for this.

It should be pointed out, nevertheless that alcohol dependency research that has centered on the long standing effects of alcohol addiction has shown that long after the alcohol addicted individual has stopped his or her drinking, significant changes in the way in which the alcohol addicted individual’s brain works are still present. As a consequence, all a recovering alcoholic has to do to involve himself or herself in actions that correspond with the alterations that have occurred in the brain is to engage in drinking again.

The Need for A Far Reaching Lifestyle Transformation

There are other reasons why quite a few recovering alcohol addicted 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 dependent individual needs new ways of acting and thinking in order to deal more competently with tough alcohol-related circumstances 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 elicit memories that can trigger psychological anxiety or push hot buttons that influence the recovering alcohol dependent individual to engage in abusive drinking once again. Unfortunately, all of these circumstances may not only negate long standing sobriety for the alcohol dependent individual but they can also lead to relapse and as a result go against one’s alcohol recovery.

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

In an attempt to “protect” the family’s alcoholic, family members can actually cause unplanned harm by enabling the negative drinking behavior of the alcoholic.

The alcoholism research literature confirms the fact that most individuals who successfully complete alcohol therapy experience at least one relapse. Alcohol addicted individuals and their family members need to know this so that they do not get dejected or overwhelmed when a relapse takes place.

Happily, participation in support groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous and follow-up rehab and education have resulted in more effective, ongoing alcohol abuse and alcoholism treatment outcomes, have helped decrease alcohol relapses, and have helped recovering alcohol dependent individuals accomplish enduring alcohol recovery.

Related articles:

• A Young Woman Tries to Stop Drinking, Suffers From Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms, Learns That She is Alcohol Dependent, Makes Up Her Mind to Get Alcohol Rehabilitation, and Augments Her Communication Skills in Her Dating Relationships
• The Importance Of Alcohol Therapy And How Mental Health Issues And Alcohol Dependency Commonly Lead To Relationship, Marital, Divorce, And Friendship Problems
• There’s Hope For Enhanced Dating Relationships If Those Who Engage In Abusive And Unhealthy Drinking Can Become Persuaded To Get The Alcohol Rehabilitation They Need