True friends are the ones who do not let their partners get into any bad habits and help them enhance their life. When they see their friends inclining to destructive things, they intervene and strive to keep their buddies away from harmful practices. Still, in many cases, people fail to intercede in time. Before they know it, their friends are already addicted to health-damaging practices.
Alcohol addiction never leads to anything pleasant. Instead, it ruins people's lives and adversely affects their health. People start alcohol consumption to 'fit in' their friends' circle, find an escape from their problems or drown their worries in it. They consider it a myth that it is an addiction and feel that they can quickly leave alcohol. Generally, it is too late to stop consuming alcohol, and they struggle to cope with their addictive behaviors.
Unlike picking up alcohol consumption, leaving the bad habit is far from easy. Addicts need to have solid willpower and must show consistency in their approach to overcome addiction. Most addicts require support from their near and dear ones as they cannot overcome their addiction by themselves. Friends can play an essential role in helping them deal with their addictive behaviors.
The following are some ways in which people can help their friends cope with their alcohol addiction.
1. Gain Information About Alcohol Disorders
People may think that they possess enough knowledge about alcohol abuse and can help their friends. When they try to support their buddies in overcoming their addiction, they realize they only have superficial knowledge. As a friend, they need to understand that addicts feel helpless and desperately want to regain control. Not everyone gets into alcohol abuse for the same reason. Friends must try to understand the reasoning behind victims of alcohol abuse picking up the habit. Some people cannot control their urges and may require professional treatments. Friends should strive to gain information about alcohol disorders to determine their partners' stage.
Aside from gauging their friends' addiction level, they should also research a suitable treatment center. They can search for professionals around their area or from the internet. For instance, people living in Florida can contact The Palm Beach Institute for their friend's alcohol treatment. They have established their name in providing professional service.
2. Don't Shun Them Away
People look down upon alcohol addicts and often do not want to be associated with them. Friends must realize that their alcoholic friends may wish to change and struggle hard to leave the harmful practice. They must not shun them away and try to include them in their activities.
Several people are under the notion that they can correct their friends' ways by ridiculing them as it may make them understand the impact of their habits. On the contrary, their shaming attitude may depress their alcohol-victims companions, and they drown themselves in alcohol. Friends must lend support and try to be there when their addicts' friends need them.
3. Demonstrate Patience and Compassion
Dealing with addicts is a constant test of patience. Many people decide to help their friends handle their addiction, drift away because it starts tolling their mental and emotional health. Addicts tend to promise not to touch the alcohol again, only to break it in a day or two. Naturally, friends feel irritated and see their efforts go in vain. Friends are required to demonstrate compassion and understand that addicts cannot leave destructive practices overnight.
Many addicts blatantly refuse to admit that they have an issue and they need to alter their ways. Friends must expect difficulties as addicts can be tough to crack and dealing with them can drain them mentally.
4. Establish Realistic Expectations
As much as friends' intentions are sincere, and the hard work they put in, the actual change cannot come in a day or two. It takes time, and sometimes friends might feel that they are failing. Educating themselves about alcohol disorders and addicts helps people understand what to expect from their alcoholic partners. They set realistic expectations, do not hope for overnight miracles, and continue to put in efforts.
Friends may urge to preach to their alcoholic friends, making them realize the intensity and effects of their addiction in the hope of giving them some sense. They must understand that many addicts neither know what you are saying in their favor nor consider their habits harmful. In some cases, alcohol victims may shun their well-wishers and start avoiding them.
5. Choose Right Words to Communicate
Addicts can be unreasonable and may act strangely. Friends often see a different side of their alcohol victims' friends that they have not seen even in an association of decades. They may get agitated and angry about their companions' behavior and have an impulse to lecture them now and then. Still, they must realize the situation and pick the right place, words, and time to communicate. Friends may have to plan their talk and think hard to convince their addict's partners that they are in trouble and need to mend their ways. Right words at the right time, hit the chord, and derive the desired results. In comparison, the wrong choice of words and tone can have an opposite impact.
6. Don't Neglect Yourself
Friends must remind themselves that they need to take care of themselves and not neglect their personal lives. They must keep the famous statement,' you cannot pour from an empty vessel in mind.' Putting oneself on priority is not selfishness but a necessity. Friends must strive to help their alcoholic friends but not at the expense of their mental peace and physical well-being.
The truth is we all are in charge of our actions. Friends can lend support, counsel their friends, show them the negative impact of alcohol, but they cannot make the ultimate decision is as it is of their friends.
Conclusion
Friends want to see their companions thriving, healthy, and happy. When they see their buddies indulge in destructive habits, they do not steer themselves away. Instead, they interfere and strive to help their friends leave unhealthy practices. Alcohol consumption has become a prevalent issue in modern society. Despite many health practitioners and psychiatrists raising awareness on the deadly effects, an alarming number of people are getting into alcohol consumption and being addicted to it. Overcoming alcohol addiction is a test of nerves and patience. Friends can assist alcohol addicts in handling their addiction, but they need to show perseverance and be empathetic. The road to breaking away from alcohol is full of bumps, but friends' support can make the journey easy.
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