How do I convince my mom to stop drinking so much?

Question

My mom is an amazing woman... she's done so much for herself and her children. Now that we are all grown (at 24, I am her youngest child), she has taken to drinking on occasion, which is okay... but in the last year, her fiancee hit her and they split, my sister and her started fighting all the time, my aunt died, my other aunt got breast cancer, and numerous other things have gone wrong. My mom went from drinking on occasion to drinking every day. Sometimes she's drunk by noon, sometimes 10am. I've tried to talk her into AA, and I've tried to talk her into rehab, but she won't do either. Now she gets the shakes (withdrawals) if she doesn't drink within a couple of hours of waking up. She sleeps more than ever before, she has no energy, she's turning into more of an alcoholic than I could have ever imagined. I love my mom to death, but I don't know how to help her. Should I stage an intervention? If so, how do I go about doing that? Can I get her checked into rehab? HELP!!!

my mom is a smoker, heavy smoker. She knows she has a problem, but she won't get help. My mom has aged 10 years in the last 12 months, and I'm terrified that something is going to happen to her because of drinking. I have nightmares about it... I want her to get help, I want her to live... I just don't know how to do so. She knows the effects alcohol has on your liver, and she knows what it can do to people. She isn't driving around anywhere, she just sits at home and drinks. Her boyfriend is an Alcoholic, too, and I know that he is part of the reason she drinks so much.

Answer 1

+ tell her how much you care and how much she will be missed and point out all of the things that she will not get a chance to do if she keeps drinking. (that would be a mini intervention on your part) If it does not work ask her how far and how long she can go before hitting rock bottom and gets herself into real trouble? Ask her to do an experiment and go 48 hour without a drink. and to go into rehab if she can't make it for 48 hours. Wait and see what happens.
Good Luck

Answer 2

All you can do is express your concerns to her and encourage her to seek help. She has to want to quit. Either she's in denial or is too afraid to face life without using alcohol as a crutch. With all the things that have happened lately it may have triggered a depression and she started to rely on alcohol to self-medicate. An intervention can be very helpful. Even if it doesn't convince her to seek help it will show her how concerned people are about her. I don't know how to do one but you can call around to local treatment centers and ask them. If she does decide to stop drinking PLEASE DON'T let her go "cold turkey". If she's having early withdrawal symptoms like the shakes then she's significantly physically dependent on alcohol. Longer periods without booze could produce more severe, even life-threatening symptoms. She should do it under medical supervision. I wish you and her the best.

Answer 3

Your mom really does need help. She hasn't been able to handle the stress in her life and she is basically trying to "numb" the feelings she can't handle. I had the same situation with my husband. You can't get her into rehab without her consent, unless she gets into trouble and it is court ordered (which was my situation). A lot of people who use alcohol are functional (work, pay bills, etc.), and don't see their problem until they hit rock bottom. She needs to admit there is a problem, which will be hard for her to do, because it will be one more thing that has gone wrong in her life. You may think that you could threaten her with staying out of life until she gets sober, but take my advice, DON'T. If she's not ready, she could turn this around saying that you have a problem. If you can, please make sure she doesn't drive if possible. It's hard to get you license back after you loose it.
Right now you need to get help for yourself. Ala-Non is a great group for support of family members of alcoholics. If you can't find a group, a private counselor would be a great help to you right now.
I wish I could tell you an easy path to get your mom out of this situation.
Please remember to take care of yourself, too!

Answer 4

You may have to get in touch with organisations which help the children or relatives of alcoholics, like Al-Anon, before coaxing your mother into rehab. The NCADD has a helpline as well for concerned relatives like yourself.
Any kind of intervention on your part must not, if possible, result in your mother's feeling ambushed. You may be better off confronting her as one of a group of concerned persons, when trying to convince her to heal herself.

Answer 5

Do yourself a favor and do some serious inquiries from objective sources on the internet about artificial sweeteners. You'll find much solid information that debunks the hazards of aspartame etc. Certainly you can respect your Dad, but try to get some facts first.

Answer 6

First you need to join alanon. Go to their meetings and listen. Someone there will offer you support. Accept the support and then work with them to get an intervention arranged. If you need immediate help, phone the physic unit of the hospital and tell them your mother is a danger to herself and to you. You fear suicide is on the edge for her.

Answer 7

Contact your local ALANON chapter and ask for help.
Info about ALANON:
http://www.answers.com/topic/al-anon-alateen?method=26&initiator=answertip:more
I think your mom is bored with life.
As we age things do not get any easier.
Insead of facing reality she is commiting slow surcide.

Answer 8

I have lived with and known many addicts in my life, and they won't change until they realize that they have a problem, and pointing it out might help, but she won't change for you, she has to change for herself for it to be effective and lasting.

Answer 9

show her pictures of destroyed livers from drinking too much

Answer 10

show her a movie about how drinking can effect her.