Recovering from Alcoholism

Once an alcoholic has taken steps to become sober and has received treatment for their disease, many think the hard work is over. While the act of getting someone to admit to a problem and start treatment is usually very difficult and emotional, the work is not completed simply because treatment has begun. Both the alcoholic and their family will most likely face years of difficult times when it comes to alcoholism.

Recovery for Life

Alcoholism is a disease that affects people for life. An alcoholic cannot get sober with treatment and then expect everything to be fine. There is always the temptation to drink. Most treatment professionals will stress that total abstinence from alcohol is important. Even with counseling and therapy, it is very difficult to not take a drink again, especially when alcohol has controlled someone’s life for so long. Recovering alcoholics will also struggle with family relationships. They may have had marriages that failed or were hanging on by a thread. Most likely, roles will change a bit as an alcoholic goes from typically out-of-control to a more passive role in the family. Recovering alcoholics may need to relearn how to function in society. If they were out of work because of their disease or out of touch with reality in general, this is something they need to reconnect with. Alcoholics Anonymous is a very helpful resource for recovering alcoholics, as they gain strength and knowledge from others going through the same thing.

Recovery for Family

Alcoholism is also a disease that affects the whole family. Children and spouses of alcoholics learn to tread carefully around them, or to ignore them when they get aggressive. Resentment is often a big part of family members’ feelings. Once the alcoholic in the family is sober, the family may want to breathe a sigh of relief, but sometimes things don’t go back to a normal way of life. Maybe the recovering alcoholic will become withdrawn and want to be left out of family functions. Maybe the alcoholic feels like their family is critical of them and this causes conflict. Maybe the recovering alcoholic’s personality itself seems to be different after going through recovery. Other family members of alcoholics have experienced all these concerns. Families can get help through Al-Anon and Alateen, which provide support to spouses and children of alcoholics.

It is important for both the recovering alcoholic and their family to get help. Family members can learn how to be encouraging rather than resentful, and the recovering alcoholic can learn how to reconnect with their family. Family togetherness and family therapy will help aid in sobriety.

Sources

Spouse’s Attitude Can Affect Alcoholic’s Relapse

The Female Partner of the Recovering Male Alcoholic

Al-Anon

No Intimate Relationships During the First Year of Sobriety!