Fear is an unpleasant and powerful emotion caused by anticipation or awareness of danger.
When talking about alcoholism or addiction and alcoholics, addicts and their families we see extreme forms of fear both rational and irrational.
Take for instance the alcoholic or addict. Their fear is generally very narrow. They fear running out of drugs or alcohol and they fear experiencing withdrawal symptoms. They may also fear the police and their own families. They do not however fear what it is that is killing them. They do not fear alcohol or heroin or cocaine or methamphetamine. They fear losing what has now become their best friend. And their best friend is the one thing which gives them relief. Relief from a world they perceive as unjust, unfair and suppressive. They fear everything they should not and do not fear everything they should.
Now families on the other hand have a more rational fear. Their fear is not any more real than that of the alcoholic or addict it is just more reasonable or rational. The family has seen self-destructive behavior firsthand and they are somewhat aware of what can happen if their loved one continues on the current path they are on. The family does not want to see their son, daughter, wife, husband, brother, sister or friend, perish! And the family certainly cannot fathom not doing something!
But what is there to do? The real first question is what should families not do? Families should not give the alcoholic or addict any money whatsoever. Families should not make excuses for their loved one’s self-destructive behavior and families should express their concerns openly and honestly whenever and wherever the opportunity arises.
What should you do, or maybe best stated, what can you do? Families can feed and give clothing and multivitamins and water and electrolyte rich beverages. Families can give their alcoholic or addict loved one a copy of the Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous text and the family can read a copy themselves. The family can help them get into a detoxification center or rehabilitation center or hospital or physicians office. After that, any help may be bordering on enabling and that can be counterproductive. |
