Do you have a family member who drinks too much? If so, you’re not alone. Millions of people in the U.S. have alcohol problems, affecting them and their loved ones. Alcohol can trouble the family, causing stress, conflict, violence, and dysfunction. In this article, we’ll tell you some common ways alcohol can hurt your family and how you can cope and get help.
How Alcohol Can Hurt Your Family
When someone drinks too much alcohol, they change. They act differently, think differently, and feel differently. And that can have a big impact on their families and friends. Here are some ways alcohol can hurt your family:
- It can make you stressed and unhappy. Living with someone who drinks too much can be very stressful and upsetting. You never know what to expect or what they might do or say. You might feel anxious, depressed, angry, or hopeless about the situation. You might also try to ignore or hide the problem or make excuses.
- It can ruin your relationships. Alcohol can ruin marriage, make someone lose trust, intimacy, and communication with family members. They might isolate themselves from their loved ones, lie, cheat, or blame them for their problems. They might also lose respect or affection for them. You might feel hurt, betrayed, or resentful about their behavior.
- It can make you fight a lot. Alcohol can make someone more irritable, moody, or unreasonable when they drink or want to drink. They might also pick fights or argue with their family about small or big things. They might also blame their family members for their problems or accuse them of being unfaithful or unsupportive.
- It can make you abusive. Alcohol can make someone more violent or abusive when drunk or through withdrawal. They might hit, slap, push, choke, or threaten their partners or children with physical harm. They might also verbally insult, humiliate, intimidate, or control their partners or children with words. They might also force or coerce their partners or children into unwanted sexual activities.
- It can hurt your kids. Kids who grow up with a drunk parent are at risk of many problems. They may behave inappropriately, such as aggression.
Alcohol can also mess up your relationship with your partner or spouse.
Alcohol is involved in more than half of domestic abuse cases in the U.S. Alcohol can also affect someone’s ability to work, provide, or care for themselves or their family. Alcohol can cause relationship problems.
- Cheating. Drinking too much alcohol impairs judgment and lowers inhibitions, making you more likely to cheat. They may seek emotional or physical intimacy outside of their relationship to cope with loneliness or dissatisfaction.
- Unplanned pregnancies. Alcohol can make someone less careful or responsible about contraception when drinking or pressure their partner into unprotected sex. They might also not want or be able to support their partner during pregnancy or parenthood.
- Divorce. Alcohol can eventually break up a relationship and lead to divorce. People who drink too much might lose their partner’s trust, respect, and love over time because of their drinking and its consequences. They might also be unable to meet their partner’s needs and wants, like being faithful, supportive, responsible, and loving.
How to Cope with Alcohol in Your Family
Having a family member who drinks too much can be very difficult, but there are some things you can do to help them and yourself.
Some tips for coping with alcohol in your family are:
- Be honest. Talk to your family members about their drinking and how it affects you and others when they are sober and calm. Tell them how you feel and what you worry about without judging, blaming, or criticizing them. Let them know you love them and want them to help.
- Be safe. Protect yourself and others. Don’t try to reason with them or stop them from drinking when they are drunk.
- Be supportive. Encourage your family members to get professional help for their alcohol problem. Offer to take them to see a doctor, counselor, or therapist. Help them find a therapy program that suits them and their situation. Cheer them on and celebrate their efforts and achievements in recovery.
- Be informed. Learn more about alcohol and how it affects the brain and behavior. Understand that it is a chronic disease that needs ongoing treatment and care. Know the signs and symptoms of alcohol misuse.
Conclusion
Alcohol can negatively impact your family and relationships. It can cause stress, conflict, violence, and dysfunction. It can also hurt your health, work, and happiness. But you don’t have to let alcohol ruin your life or your family. You can cope with alcohol in your family by being honest, safe, supportive, informed, helpful, respectful, realistic, and proactive. You can also prevent alcohol abuse in your family by being a positive role model. This is done by being informed, educated, involved, supportive, proactive, and protective.
And most importantly, you can get help for yourself and your family members who drink too much. Many resources and programs are available to help you and your loved one overcome alcohol misuse and addiction. You are not alone in this struggle. You can find hope and healing for yourself and your family.
