Tips for recovering alcoholics during the holidays

Image via Wikipedia

The holidays always present a special challenge to many recovering alcoholics. Whether it is family functions, office parties, or special dinners, alcohol is usually not far away. For recovering alcoholics there lies many temptations and it takes a great deal of strength to overcome them. Here are a few tips to help a recovering alcoholic get through the tempting holidays. If you live in South Carolina and would like to attend AA meetings, see the link at the bottom of this article for more information.

1. Avoid parties and social functions where alcohol is served. It seems like a no brainer but the simplest solution to avoiding a relapse is to not place yourself where the danger is.
2. If you have to attend a function where alcohol is being served, bring bottled water, cranberry juice or some other drink from home and nurse it throughout the evening. Most people will see you holding a drink and never pester you about drinking more.
3. Keep in close contact with your sponsor if you currently have one. If you don't this may be the ideal time to get one. Why go it alone?
4. Attend fashionably late, and leave early. The less time you spend around the environment, the better.
5. Travel in pairs. Believe it or not it is a lot easier to stay sober if you attend functions with people who know about your sobriety and will keep you from slipping.
6. Be honest. If you are in a situation that is pressuring you to drink, explain you are a recovering alcoholic and never get into a debate or discussion with someone that is already “three sheets to the wind.” Many times other drinkers will go out of their way to try to get you to fall off the wagon. If this happens, be prepared to leave.
7. Make sober friends and plan holiday activities with them. This is a great way to help you in the process of overcoming alcoholism. Sober, non drinking friends make it easier for you to enjoy your holiday.
8. Keep your cell phone handy and make sure to call for support if you have to.

For Alcoholics Anonymous meetings in your area, see: AA South Carolina

For additional support, and information on alcoholism and addictions, see: The Addicted Family

Related articles

• What is a functioning alcoholic?
• Alcohol's effect on the body
• Amy Winehouse's death due to alcohol poisoning
• Harry Potter star opens up about alcoholism
• Mental illness and alcoholism

There is hope for addiction

Image by ashley rose, via FlickrBefore you read anything else on this site I want you to know there is hope. I would never tell you this unless I knew it with all of my heart, and I have experienced both the devastation of addiction, and the empowerment of seeing the disease conquered.Addiction can be fought and won. It is a possible and it happens every day. The commitment to the recovery is what is key. If you have found yourself here to find help, support and answers for what to do, you need to know there are many going through what you are going through and many have given up too soon, and/or the addict was not committed to the recovery that has to take place.
Please don't hesitate to contact me if you have additional questions. I will try my best to help you and if I don't know the answer I will find someone that does.
This disease can be won, the unseen chains that have you and your loved one captive can be broken but for it all to come together and work you have to gain the knowledge and the strength to know exactly what you are up against and how to get your own game face on. This is about conquering your fears and your commitment to the process that has to happen too. This is why this site is called The Addicted Family, because the whole family is ill. Not just the addict, but the addict infects every member that has feeling for them. whether its your mom, dad, brother, uncle, aunt, cousin or good friend. Their illness, their addiction is all consuming. If you've made it here its probably because you're ready to save a life. Their life, and yours. There is hope and this you must believe. There is hope. If you can't believe this, and you've become resigned, you are probably wasting your time here. If you still want to fight to save the addict or to save yourself, then please, lets get ready. The battle is on. Get the facts about the specific addiction, learn all you can, and get the empowerment you need. Did you know, most addicts count on you not knowing what they are dealing with? Yes, they do. As long as they think you don't understand they will shut you out. Becoming knowledgeable on their problem puts you one step ahead of what they anticipate. Every tool you have in your arsenal is needed. It all begins with what you understand about addiction and the individual disease(s) you or your loved one is fighting.
Good luck, you're not alone, contact me if you need me, and please study this site, its here for you. And one last thing..I know I have already said, it but it bears repeating...THERE IS HOPE.

Why The Addicted Family?

Image via Wikipedia Addicts are seldom a single entity. I for one, will go on record as saying, I don't like giving addicts excuses by blaming their families. That being said, the reason for the title The Addicted Family is because the whole family is made ill by the addiction.

If you ever spent a sleepless night, or rode around looking for your addict all over town, or lied to people to cover for the addict, you're just as ill as they are. Don't fret, this is how love copes initially with this type of disease.

We do things, in the name of love that defy logic in the eyes of those not in this vortex. We even imitate some of the addicts behavior. No? Have you ever lied, even though it went against what you believe in?

Have you ever given them money that you knew wasn't all yours to give to help them get a fix so they wouldn't get sick? Have you helped them break the law by driving them to where ever they go to  get what they need?

You become an addict, you are addicted to them, their life, their needs come before your own. You are absorbed into their soul, and your happiness is only when you know where they are, and that they are ok...for the moment. When you see them, you are getting your temporary fix.

You breathe a sigh of relief when they finally show up at your door, and collapse on your couch. Maybe they were out all night, maybe they drove a car under the influence...no matter what the circumstances, you are now like the addict, once he pulls that strap off his arm, or has that final drink before he passes out.

This is why the family is now the addicted family. Its no dig on you, you've done what you could. What lies in store for your happiness now? Does it all hinge on the addict? Does it all come down to what they are going to  do, or does it fall squarely in your lap, and what you will no longer do?

Helping an addicted loved one

Addiction is a disease that poisons whole families.

Image via Wikipedia

Corey Haim, child star of the Lost Boys etc, was found dead in his apartment from an apparent drug overdose at the age of 38.

How do we fight this battle in our own families to avoid this tragic end? Sadly, drug use enters into a family much like a thief in the night. By the time you realize it, it is usually well in force. Family members find themselves in unfamiliar territory as they journey through this devastating attack on their loved ones. Fighting a drug problem, whether your own or a family members takes courage and determination. Summoning support for a wide variety of resources is the only way to combat it head on. 

Image via Wikipedia

 
Strength in numbers-

You are not alone. Once you realize you have a member of your family or a friend that is an addict, take a hold of yourself. Your strength wont only help you, it will help them. Find friends, get over the shame, and realize many people out there know how to help you, even if its just through mutual compassion and understanding. You need this reinforcement, you're up for a huge battle and you have to be ready to call on support. An addict can manipulate, lie, steal and trick you in their attempts to gain money and other means of support from you. You need others input to help you. You also need to use some of the addicts own methods to help them. Tactics to battle this disease often times means using many methods, if you have to trick them, or lie to get them the help they need do not hesitate. Every minute of addiction is one more nail in the users coffin. Tomorrow will not be easier than today.

Get educated-

Know what signs to look for. Some to keep an eye out for is lying, dilated pupils, blood shot eyes, sweating, snoring or unsettling sleep patterns, shortness of breath, irrational behavior, change in personality and temper. Research the drug, and the information that is available. Your local library and your own computer offers a wealth of information on the subject. To fight any disease is to have the right knowledge.

Plan your confrontation ahead of time-

Summon your support and round up your family and friends to help. Tell them you care and love them and know in your heart that they are a good person that made a bad decision. Say what you mean and mean what you say. An addict will sleep in the gutter if they have to, so idle threats are of no use to them. You have to make them understand the extremes you are willing to go to. If it means calling their employer, or reporting them to the police do so. You are fighting for their life, and regret is a painful thing to live with if you do nothing and they die. Don't cover for them. Don't make life easy for them. Use any means necessary to get them into treatment. If they are really bad off, get them help immediately. Do not waste time with outpatient services. They need inpatient round the clock care.

Get counseling for yourself-

There are wonderful support groups out there for you, and your family.

Do know, that people do overcome addiction. Do not give up, addiction takes dedication to recovery. Yours and your loved ones. Relapses may occur, but the ongoing key to lifetime recovery is lifetime commitment to fight it.

Related articles

• When your love isn't enough, how to deal with an addict
• Tips on getting through to an addicted loved one
• What is a functioning alcoholic?
• Support for addiction in the family
• What makes some people become an addict?