Enabling, Alcohol Relapse, and Dishonesty
A critical alcohol addiction issue concerns the enabling behavior displayed by family members. In point of fact, it is worthy of note to highlight something that more than a few family members who have been negatively affected by the alcohol dependency of another family member obviously do not comprehend. By shielding the alcoholic with lies and falsehoods to others outside the family, these well-intentioned family members have inadvertently created a situation that makes it less problematic for the alcohol addicted person to perpetuate his or her careless, abusive, and detrimental style of life.
Enabling and the Bolstering of Irresponsible and Dangerous Drinking
Stated more specifically, rather than actually helping the alcohol addicted individual and helping themselves confront and effectively cope with the problem drinker's illness, these family members have essentially become enablers who have somehow learned how to bolster the destructive and damaging behaviors and actions of the alcoholic.
The Likelihood of a Relapse is Real
In addition to enabling, alcohol relapse is another key alcohol dependency issue. In fact, alcohol abuse and alcoholism research shows that most alcoholics who quit drinking and get alcohol treatment relapse at least once. What is more, some substance abuse professionals forcefully claim that relapse is a common occurrence in the recovery process. Clearly, alcohol dependent individuals and their families need to know this so that they do not get depressed or down in the dumps when a relapse takes place.
One characteristic of relapse, nonetheless, requires extraordinary deliberation, namely, when an alcohol dependent person has completed alcohol rehabilitation in a productive and successful manner and then starts drinking quite a few weeks, months, or maybe years down-the-road.
"She had beaten her drinking problem. Why did she fall off the wagon and begin drinking again"" This is a common question that more than a few friends or family members have asked about an alcohol dependent person who experienced a relapse after successfully going through alcohol treatment.
Indeed, to the "average" person, an alcohol relapse after many months or years of recovery is so illogical that it compels a person to ponder why any person who has experienced the suffering and pain of alcoholism can return to drinking. To be sure, there are numerous plausible reasons for this.
Contrary to what many if not most of the people-on-the-street know, addiction research has verified that many weeks or months after alcohol dependent individuals have become sober, major modifications in the way in which the their brain functions are still present. Sadly, all recovering alcoholics have to do to engage in actions that are linked to the changes that have taken place in their brain is to involve themselves once again in drinking.
The Need for A Significant Lifestyle Change
Brain transformations aside, there are other plausible reasons why many recovering alcoholics start drinking many weeks or months after attaining sobriety. As an illustration, substance abuse research shows that alcoholics need different and novel ways of reacting and thinking so they can more effectively deal with problematic alcohol-related issues that will arise.
In addition, circumstances such as unforgettable smells, activities, or songs; hanging out once again with buddies from the time when the alcohol addicted individual was still drinking in a careless and immature way; or returning to the same drinking environment or geographic location-- all of these factors can trigger certain psychological "hot buttons" that "encourage" recovering alcohol dependent people to once again engage in hazardous and careless drinking.
Not only this, but all of these conditions may not only result in a relapse and work against the goals of abstinence, but they may also sabotage lasting recovery.
Luckily, long term alcohol addiction therapeutic outcomes, follow-up counseling and education, and involvement in support groups and recovery programs like Alcoholics Anonymous have not only helped decrease alcohol relapses, but they have also helped recovering alcoholics achieve long lasting alcohol recovery.
Denny Mitchell writes about drug intervention, drunk driving, and the long term effects of alcohol. For more info, visit saliva alcohol test info.
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