A 46-year-old member asked:
what are some ways to cope with a heavy drinker?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
Dr. Stuart Wasser answered
Addiction Medicine 35 years experience
See below: Get counseling. Go to an al-anon meeting.
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A 57-year-old member asked:
When does a heavy drinker realize "enough is enough"? Lives are being ruined. What can we do to help them?
3 doctor answers • 6 doctors weighed in
Dr. Steven Bowers answered
Internal Medicine 33 years experience
Tragic: Yes it is tragic how alcoholics impact the lives of so many. Until the alcoholic recognizes that there is a problem, little can be done. The most important thing is to not enable them. Let them experience the consequences of their addiction without any help from outside. Perhaps that will bring about the realization that something needs to change.
6048 views
3 comments
Dr. David Miller commented
Family Medicine 10 years experience
The nature of addiction is that it makes you feel like everything is OK. Even when everything is falling apart around you, you become so disconnected from reality that it takes something extremely dramatic to get you to see that you have a problem. Stay on them and don't ever give up. Some day you may break through to them and help change their life for the good. And don't forget to pray for them.
Feb 5, 2012
Dr. David Miller commented
Family Medicine 10 years experience
You are indeed welcome. I pray that you're able to help them turn it around.
Feb 5, 2012
Dr. Steven Bowers commented
Internal Medicine 33 years experience
Provided original answer
I have to respectfully disagree with medical student David Miller. Alanon family groups recommend that the family member "detach with love." If you keep doing the same things, you will get the same results. I urge you to go to Alanon, change yourself, and possibly your alcoholic will change with you.
Feb 5, 2012
A 39-year-old member asked:
If you are a heavy drinker how can you just stop?
1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in
Dr. Kevin Passer answered
Child Psychiatry 35 years experience
Cut down: Try and drink a little less each day. Try and postpone your drinking by a little more time each day. Try attending aa, try for 90 meetings in 90 days. For a meeting nearby, check out www.Aa.Org. Good luck.
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Last updated Mar 26, 2013
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