What to Say to An Addict In Denial: Erasing Shame and Encouraging Treatment

Engage in open, non-judgmental conversations where you express concern about their well-being, citing specific instances of how drinking has impacted their health, relationships, and daily life. While someone is seeking treatment for alcohol abuse, you can offer in-person support while they search for the right provider. Your loved one may be worried about issues such as the pain of detox or logistics like childcare when they attend treatment. Ideally, before approaching your loved one with treatment options, you’ve thought through some of these issues. Are you concerned about a loved one who is struggling with an alcohol use disorder but seems to be in denial? It can be incredibly challenging and frustrating to witness someone you care about refusing to acknowledge the severity of their drinking problem.

• If this happens, they won’t be willing to listen to what you have to say.
• Achieving sobriety is significant, but maintaining it requires ongoing effort and support.
• “For example, you may notice your spouse drinking more beers at dinner, sleeping less and less, and increasingly on edge well before they start missing workdays,” Grawert adds.
• Research, however, has not supported the conclusion that substance-dependent persons, as a group, have abnormally robust defense mechanisms.
• Alcohol use vs. abuse is not a black or white issue—there are shades of gray.

Denial Feels Like the Easier Option

No one ever starts out drinking alcohol or using drugs with the idea that they want to get addicted. In the end, helping an addicted person can be a long and tricky process. If you remain steadfast in adhering to Alcoholism and Denial these guidelines, though, you can have a greater chance of helping your loved one recover.

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• For instance, someone who grew up with a parent dealing with alcohol use disorder might internalize shame when facing their own addiction struggles.
• Instead, she recommends seeking more formal support with Al-Anon or therapy to help you create boundaries and care for yourself.
• It’s important not to try and approach your loved one while they are drunk or high to have this conversation.
• Tradeoffs’ coverage of CalAIM is supported in part by the California Health Care Foundation.

The goal is to convince the person to get help and have an incredible future, or that to continue to resist and engage in their addiction will lead to difficult life scenarios and potentially severe consequences. If you seem like you don’t understand what you’re talking about, it’ll be hard for your addicted loved one to take you seriously or take what you say to heart. To get through to a person with addiction, start by utilizing resources to educate yourself about what they may be going through. The internet has plenty of helpful information related to addiction, and there are many resources you can contact if your questions are not answered. Rehabilitation centers, such as Design for Recovery, are designed to help those struggling with alcoholism and in denial.

Lifestyle

According to the 2022 NSDUH, 7.6% of adults aged 18 and older with alcohol use disorder (AUD) in the past year—totaling 2.2 million people—received treatment for their alcohol use. Interestingly, many people with AUD sought care from primary care providers for alcohol-related medical issues rather than directly for their drinking habits. 3 This highlights a trend where medical problems related to alcohol use often prompt individuals to seek professional help, underscoring the dual impact of AUD on both physical health and treatment-seeking behaviors. An intervention is a carefully planned process that family and friends can do, working with a doctor or another health care professional, such as a licensed alcohol and drug counselor.

The best way to support your friend is by staying away from alcohol when you are with them and finding other fun things to do together that don’t involve alcohol. Asking for help or admitting to struggling with a problem is hard for many people, not just those who struggle with their use of alcohol. Admitting a problem means facing difficult truths and doing hard work to overcome the issue, which is challenging.