Alcohol Relapse, Enabling, and Alcohol Dependency

By Denny Mitchell

A key alcohol dependency subject involves the enabling behavior manifested by family members. In fact, it is important to mention something that many family members who have been unfavorably affected by the alcoholism of another family member apparently have difficulty realizing. Unbeknownst to them, when they protect the alcohol addicted individual with deceitfulness and falsehoods to those outside the family, these well-intentioned family members have, for all practical intents and purposes, created a scenario that makes it almost effortless for the alcoholic to maintain his or her destructive, unhealthy, and injurious way of living.

Enabling and the Bolstering of Irresponsible and Dangerous Drinking

Stated in a different manner, rather than honestly helping the alcohol dependent person and helping themselves face and manage the alcoholic's disease, these family members have basically become enablers who have learned how to reinforce the negative and unhealthy behaviors of the problem drinker.

The Likelihood of a Relapse is Real

Not unlike enabling, alcohol relapse is another critical alcohol addiction problem. In point of fact, the alcoholism and alcohol abuse research literature reveals the fact that most alcohol addicted people who quit drinking and get alcohol rehabilitation relapse a minimum of one or two times. Furthermore, some drug and alcohol addiction experts openly state that relapse is an essential part of the recovery process. Obviously, alcohol addicted persons and their family members need to know this so that they do not get overwhelmed or dejected when a relapse happens.

One facet of relapse, nevertheless, demands particular consideration: when an alcohol addicted individual has gone through alcohol rehab in a successful and effective manner and then begins to drink once again many weeks, months, or perhaps years later.

"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.

Without a doubt, to the "typical" person, an alcohol relapse after many weeks or months of abstinence is so astounding that it makes an individual wonder why someone who has worked through the misery and anguish of alcohol dependency can begin drinking once again. Of course, there are quite a few 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.

A Requirement for A Fundamental Lifestyle Modification

Brain modifications aside, there are more than a few reasons why numerous recovering alcohol addicted individuals begin drinking more than a few weeks or months after successful alcohol treatment. For example and in concurrence with the drug and alcohol addiction research literature, alcohol dependent people require new and varied ways of thinking and responding so that they can more effectively negotiate and manage problematic alcohol-related circumstances that will surely happen.

Moreover, situations such as familiar songs, smells, or activities; associating once again with pals from the time when the alcohol dependent person was still drinking in an irresponsible and excessive manner; or returning to the same drinking atmosphere or geographic location--all of these conditions can push various emotional "hot buttons" that tempt recovering alcoholics to start drinking once again.

What is more, all of these circumstances may not only lead to relapse and work contrary to the goals of sobriety, but they may also inhibit long-term recovery.

Fortunately, enduring alcohol dependency rehab outcomes, follow-up training and counseling, and taking part in recovery programs and support groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous have not only resulted in fewer alcohol relapses, but they have also helped recovering alcohol addicted people attain long term alcohol recovery.

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