| When you live with an alcoholic in you life, it is hard not | | | | make a difference if you remain strong. |
| to get discouraged and just want to walk away. If you | | | | Remember that there is help for you and the alcoholic. |
| care about the person, you want to help them, but the | | | | There are groups that offer support to the spouse or |
| truth is that they are the only one that can take the | | | | family of the alcoholic. Al-Anon is a great group to join. |
| first steps to helping him to herself. You can try to help | | | | You can hear others talk and can even relate to what |
| as much as possible and do things to make things | | | | they are saying. After all, you are living the same |
| easier to quit, but sometimes all the help and | | | | nightmare that most of them are living. You have to |
| treatments in the world are not enough. You have to | | | | have support to make it through the hard times. This is |
| be positive and hope that the day will come when the | | | | vital to living with an alcoholic. The support should come |
| person finally goes for treatment and wins the battle | | | | from family and friends as well. If the family does not |
| of alcoholism. | | | | have a clue as to what is happening, they cannot offer |
| Remember why you fell in love with the person. This is | | | | support. |
| important or you will not make it. Many times, you will | | | | Look at picture albums and see the joyous times you |
| hate the person and other times, you will see a part of | | | | shared. This is a mask of the problem, but it does help. |
| them come shining through. It is even harder when you | | | | You see the times when the drinking did not control |
| live with an alcoholic that drinks and becomes mean | | | | your life. You see another person standing next to you. |
| and then goes a couple days of being their same | | | | Browsing through picture albums with the sober |
| loving self. They become the person you fell in love | | | | alcoholic may bring back memories for him or her as |
| with. However, it can end in a minute when they start | | | | well. Sometimes it is these times that they start to think |
| drinking again. This is the hardest thing to live with. | | | | about what they are doing and want a change. |
| Think about the person they used to be and how | | | | If you are living with an alcoholic, you have to stand up |
| much fun you used to have. This can work for a time, | | | | and let them know that you are feeling alone. You |
| but after years of abusing alcohol, it can be hard to | | | | have to let them know that you are there for them, |
| think about the good times. The person that lives with | | | | but they are the ones that have to change. You |
| an alcoholic needs to be strong. This can be hard for | | | | cannot do it for them, but you can offer support and |
| some people, but if you love the person, you have to | | | | encouragement if they agree to treatment. You are |
| try. It is hard to watch them do this to themselves, but | | | | part of the process, but the person that drinks is the |
| you have to give them love anyway. It is possible to | | | | only one that can make things better. |