It is remarkable to mention something that family members who have been negatively affected by the alcohol dependency of another family member clearly do not grasp. It seems to be that by shielding the alcohol dependent person with lies and deceit to those outside the family, these well-intentioned family members have in actual fact created a condition that makes it easier for the alcohol dependent person to persevere and proceed with his or her negative, detrimental way of living.

In fact, rather than helping the alcohol dependent person and themselves, these family members have in truth become enablers who have involuntarily helped worsen the alcohol addicted individual’s drinking problem even more.

Perhaps the real downside of this is that the alcoholic will continue drinking in an excessive and irresponsible manner and go through various “alcohol side effects.” Some of these side effects include poor health, deteriorating relationships, considerable financial problems, employment difficulties, legal issues (such as getting arrested for one or more DUIs), and diminished mental functioning.

Relapses Can and Do Occur

According to the research findings and statistics on alcohol dependency, another key alcohol dependency issue has to do with alcohol relapses. Relapses take place when an alcohol dependent person has effectively gone through alcohol addiction treatment and then returns to drinking a number of weeks or months later. At first glance, this situation seems contradictory to commonsensical thinking and looks so unrealistic that it forces one to speculate why anyone who has lived through the horrors of alcohol dependency can return to drinking a short while after effective alcohol therapy and in turn after reaching sobriety. There are, for sure, more than a few likely reasons for this.

It should be noted, nonetheless that alcohol addiction research that has centered on the lasting consequences of alcohol dependency has demonstrated-proven that long after the alcohol dependent individual has terminated his or her drinking, critical changes in the way in which the alcohol dependent person’s brain works are still present. As a result, all a recovering alcohol addicted individual has to do to involve himself or herself in behaviors that correspond with the modifications that have come about in the brain is to start drinking again.

The Necessity for A Far Reaching Lifestyle Transformation

There are even more reasons why quite a few recovering alcohol addicted individuals return to drinking a few weeks or a few months after attaining sobriety. According to the alcohol addiction research literature, to make an effective recovery, the alcohol dependent individual needs new ways of acting and thinking in order to deal more successfully with difficult alcohol-related circumstances that will take place.

Issues such as returning to the same alcohol addictive atmosphere or to the same geographic location; interacting once again with friends from the days when the alcohol dependent person was drinking irresponsibly; or familiar songs, smells, or activities—all of these situations can elicit memories that can set off psychological tension or push hot buttons that influence the recovering alcohol dependent person to engage in excessive drinking once again. Regrettably, all of these situations may not only contradict long-term alcohol recovery for the alcoholic but they can also lead to relapse and thus work against one’s alcohol recovery.

The Good News: There’s Light at the End of the Tunnel

In an attempt to “protect” the family alcohol dependent individual, family members can in fact cause unplanned destruction by enabling the unsafe drinking behavior of the alcoholic.

The drug abuse research literature confirms the fact that most people who successfully complete alcohol rehab go through at least one relapse. Alcohol dependent individuals and their family members need to know this so that they do not get depressed or beleaguered when a relapse manifests itself.

Luckily, participation in support groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous and follow-up rehab and training have resulted in more productive, enduring alcohol abuse and alcoholism rehab outcomes, have helped diminish alcohol relapses, and have helped recovering alcohol dependent individuals accomplish long standing sobriety.

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