This blog aims to help you cope with living with an alcohol abuser. I know what you are going through because I have lived through this situation myself. So I have set up the "HELP PAGES" on the right to help you cope with an alcohol affected life. Please start with the first page: "Living with an Alcohol Abuser".

Friday, April 8, 2011

ALCOHOL ABUSE AND THE FAMILY

Although the abuse of alcohol is becoming recognised as one of Western society's looming problems, the damage caused by an abuser on those close to him/her is still not a large issue in the mind of the public.

So while the physical violence stemming from alcohol abuse is well reported, what is still ignored is the emotional damage and also physical violence inflicted upon those around the abuser.  So the accepted figure of six people affected by any one alcoholic represents harm inflicted upon spouses, children, parents, relatives and friends, even colleagues.

Not knowing any better, many of those close to an alcoholic even "enable" the drinking to continue by covering up any damage done,  making excuses, paying bills, lying to the boss, concealing the truth.  In fact most of the things we do to try to stop someone drinking actually make things worse.

And the drinker will mostly have no earthly idea of the damage being done around him/her and will not even remember the sometimes degrading things that happen while on a binge.  So with someone patching things up, and no bad memories, why stop drinking?  After all, in the drinker's mind, there is no problem, is there?

If you are suffering because of a loved one's alcohol abuse, this blog may help you find a way to a better life.  My personal experiences and what I have learned from my own journey and that of others is included in this blog. 

You can make a start to a better life by working slowly through the "HELP PAGES" shown on the right - they cover the way that I found help and the way to a better life.

I hope that you find help in these pages - this blog is for YOU.