If you have a loved one who you think may be an alcoholic, it can be hard to convince them to get help to overcome their addiction. It may be helpful to provide them with information about the many ways that their addiction is affecting their lives. The following guide walks you through a few topics to discuss with your loved one to help them see that their alcoholism is having more of a negative impact than they even realize.
Drinking Alcohol on a Regular Basis Is Expensive
Most alcoholics have no idea how much money they’re spending on their addiction each month. They don’t realize just how expensive alcohol can be and how quickly the cost can add up. Take the time to figure out exactly how much money they are spending on the alcohol and then walk them through a few other things that they could be buying with the money.
Many alcoholics don’t realize that they could afford to live in a better home, drive a nicer car, or simply go and do things that they can’t afford to do at the moment if they simply stop drinking.
Drinking Alcohol Daily Can Affect Work Performance
In order for someone to be able to perform as well as they possibly can at work, they need to have a clear head and be able to focus on the tasks that are assigned to them throughout the day. Alcohol can put someone in a fog and make it difficult for them to be able to perform as well as they would if they didn’t have any alcohol in their system.
Explain to your loved one that their performance at work is suffering from their alcohol consumption. They could be missing out on promotional opportunities because they aren’t able to do their job as well as someone who isn’t battling alcoholism.
Many businesses will give their employees time off from work to get help battling an addiction because they know that it will be better for their business in the end. A sober employee will always work harder, faster, and better than an employee who is struggling to keep their eyes open or focus on what they are doing.
Alcohol Can Take a Toll on the Body
Alcohol can cause someone to gain a lot of weight, cause a stroke, and is one of the leading causes of life-threatening liver disease. Not only does it hurt the organs, but it also makes people clumsier, which can lead to someone being more susceptible to accidents. Most injuries that occur while someone is intoxicated could have been completely avoided if they were sober at the time.
Alcohol Affects the Brains Mental Clarity
Alcohol creates a fog in the brain. People can’t think as quickly as they can when they’re sober and often make irrational decisions because they don’t think things through the way they would if they weren’t drinking. This can lead to fights, accidentally insulting someone or just pure disassociation with a situation.
Alcohol can also impair the memory and someone’s ability to know what is going on in the world around them. When you become blackout drunk, you typically won’t remember what happened during that period, which is especially dangerous as you can end up harming yourself or someone else.
Alcohol Affects the Relationships People Have with One Another
Having a relationship with an alcoholic can be very difficult. Most alcoholics don’t realize that they are a danger to have around children, pets, or the elderly because they are so unpredictable. You can never be sure what an alcoholic will say or do when they are intoxicated so it’s best for them to be kept away from everyone until they are sober.
This can create a lot of distance in families. Let your loved one know that you don’t feel comfortable bringing your children, or anyone close to you around them because you don’t know what they will say or do throughout the day. You don’t want anyone to think ill of them, but at the same time, you need to protect your children from things that could be detrimental to them.
Alcohol Can Greatly Impact Someone’s Future
When an addict has been able to live a functioning life for many years, it gives them the confidence to assume that they can continue living the same way that they have been. This can lead to someone dying early, ending up in jail for doing something that they should not have been doing, or simply living an unhealthy and unfruitful life.
If your loved one is ready to get help for their addiction, guide them to a place like Recovery in Motion where they can learn different methods to not only overcome their addiction but avoid a relapse at the same time.
There are many people who battle alcohol addiction each and every day but are able to stay clean and sober by connecting with others going through a similar struggle. Take the time out of each day to remember why they are making these changes in their life.
It’s best to support your loved one in every way that you possibly can. Give them rides to any meetings that they may have had and avoid drinking around them so that they don’t feel tempted to drink after they have gone through recovery. It will be seen as a sign of respect that you’re willing to change your daily life to show them that they matter to you and you support them in every way that you can.
