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Alcohol use disorder is for many people just a way that tells us we are unhappy with life in general to such an extent that we would not mind finding refuge in another distraction.
In this view, people may distract with overeating, betting heavily, excessive use of sugary of fatty foods, even cellphone and social media overuse.
What needs doing is inviting the person to find out WHY he is not able to enjoy the ordinary pleasures that we all come with the inborn capacity to enjoy, e.g. delicious food, playing vigorous games (tennis, table tennis, hiking, swimming...the list is long,
And most importantly, having close friends with whom we enjoy sharing hobbies, ideas, worries and life curve-balls. Someone who he can be open with his deep fears and frustrations is often the start to recovery.
You can say, the more simple pleasures we have the less prone we are to harmful (DISTRACTIVE) behaviors because there won't be NEED for them.
I believe this has worked for me even tho I'd gone many times reversals of fortunes in 80 yrs, with still able to have independent trouble free (no meds, tests, surgeries or doctor visits)
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A 36-year member of Al-Anon Family Groups, I am grateful for the 12-Step spiritual program that has helped me recover from: cancer, depression, youth raised in alcohol/gambling addiction, 25 years of overprescribed psychotropic medications. I would not be as active, free, and joyous human being as I am today without the meetings, sponsorship, spiritual principles learned/practiced over time in Al-Anon Family Groups worldwide. Whether parent, child, sibling, spouse of any alcoholic, we suffer from a family disease too, whether or not we ever take a drink. We may be powerless over our loved one's addiction. But with the love & life-long connection with a spiritual way of life, we can recover from our illness - physical, emotional, &/or spiritual - we can choose to empower and heal ourselves, one day at a time. Please check out Al-Anon/Alateen.org if you are a non-alcoholic reacting to the alcoholism of your family member. It has saved my life & sanity. It can save yours too!
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Thank you. These are things I know...and at times I think my son knows. He does need to get to the heart of what caused him to want to forget and hide himself. I think of how he was such a happy child yet was ADHD and we tried to conform him to the system. We didn't know better and I think some of this could be the result. Still..he will need to find his way. IF he survives this hospital stay. He hasn't been of the mind to hear anything in the state he is in and I do fear that once he is feeling better he will not get the help he needs. But you are so right ..our well being is so independent of our surroundings and more how we react and our attitude. I want my smiling child back who loved sunsets and cat antics.
Thanks to all for letting me share.