Alcohol rehab twice in less than one year, how can one help another get better, after rehab?

Question

Someone I love and care about very much is going through this. We have seen each other 6 months now. The good part is they went for help themselves, bad part is he felt he could not tell me about it before it happened. How can I help him get better? or shoule I let him come to me about this? Has anyone gone through this and any advice? I am not a drinker myself.

Answer 1

all you can do is be supportive. when i was using nobody would have been able to do anything to help me stop.

Answer 2

This is something a person has to do on their own (which sounds like they did) and to continue with or without you. Once an alcoholic, always an alcoholic (even when they stop drinking). The only thing you can do is support him with his rehab., it is an addiction and he should feel very good about the fact he sought the help he needed. The only way I have heard for them to stay on the right path is to continually attend AA meetings and not take a drink ever.... for any reason. It is good that you are not a drinker and shouldn't ever drink in front of him. If you plan on having a relationship with him, then you might want to seek an Al-Anon group. This is for family & friends of alcoholics.....Good Luck!

Answer 3

I haven't gone through rehab myself but have had several relatives who have. In each case no one could help the person with the addiction, although many tried. In the end the person had to decide to kick it on their own. This was the first step in their recovery. Sometimes they began to backslide, but when they were met with tough love from their loved ones, things began to change. Don't become a codependent it doesn't work and you are only doing the person a disservice. Each time, happily, the person was able to make a full recovery on their own with help from professionals not family members or friends. Good luck.

Answer 4

Being a former heavy drinker myself, I can tell you from experience that you will not help get him better. It is a conscious choice and effort on his part to make the change. What you can do is to let him know that you will never judge him and will do nothing but support him. Tell him how much he means to you and go from there. Maybe you can also help him discover the root of his problem and his triggers and work on that together. Not an easy road.

Answer 5

Find out the AA meetings that are close by where your friend lives. Offer to go with him when he's out of rehab. Don't take him places where there is drinking and don't drink around him. Find things that you can do together to have fun and remind him that there is more to life than drowning in a bottle. Thank you for being a good friend and asking about this. Alcoholism is a serious desease and those that are working on recovery need good friends like you.

Answer 6

Your friend is gonna need a lot of support from you. Offer to go to AA meetings with him. If he doesn't hit alot of meetings it's not going to work. He needs these meetings to fill the time gap that his drinking used to take up. Also there is a whole lot of support at those meetings. If he starts to get bored suggest a meeting. At least once a day or maybe even twice a day. It just depends on your friend. Good Luck

Answer 7

well if i were you i would wait for him to come to you.being a alcoholic is very hard he shouldn't even be in a relationship with any one for at least a year of sobriety that the rules of ( AA ) dont get to attach to him because there could be a change he could break your heart.and be careful about leaving money around and what every you do dont let him bring his friend over to your house they well scram the place and later when you are not at home come in and rob you.and if he ask you for money ask him to bring you a receipt back showing what he spend the money on this is a long along road you are in voled in be real careful and dont trust no one.

Answer 8

I don't think 1 can help another get better. 1 has to get better first. Plus they are telling him at this very moment to not get involved in a relationship. Its not the time. He needs to devote all his time and energy to work on HIM. He won't have alot left for you. That doesn't mean you can't pick up where you left off later but for now just let him know you support him and whatever he has to do to get better is okay with you.
Good luck!

Answer 9

BEING WITH AN ALCOHOLIC IS NO FUN. BEEN THERE! STILL IN THE RELATIONSHIP, BUT NOT CLOSE ANYMORE. GET OUT WHILE YOU CAN. THEY HAVE TO BE THE ONES WHO DO IT ON THEIR OWN. I TRIED TO BE A HELPER AND WOUND UP THE ONE ALWAYS BEING HURT. DON'T [BE AN ENABLER] THEY ALWAYS LOOK FOR A SHOULDER AND ALWAYS HAVE EXCUSES WHY IT HAPPENED. ALWAYS SORRY AND I'LL NEVER DO IT AGAIN. SOME PEOPLE CANNOT HELP THEMSELVES SO SAVE YOUR OWN SELF FROM SADNESS

Answer 10

You should go to Al-Anon which is for families/friends of alcoholics. Only your friend can help himself and only he can decide if he's going to get better and who to include in his recovery process. You can let him know you support him without judging him and that you will be there if he needs you. That is all that you can do. I do recommend Al-Anon though. They have it in almost every city. It's extremely beneficial to everyone affected by an alcoholic.

Answer 11

Join Al-Anon if you are really serious to help this person. http://www.al-anon.alateen.org/ This organization is the best for what you say you want to do. All your answers will be found there if you give the organization the time and remember we are all just human beings.