Please don’t allow yourself to be misled by that person’s actions, non-actions, attitudes, demands, lies, manipulations, rationalizations, etc. There is help no matter what the perception of the current situation is. The help is there for you if the person with the alcohol problem is finding ways to avoid getting help.
For example, Take Paul’s comment today;
“the only way to get the help you need is to stop drinking, go into fits risking his own life or wait until a weekday. I have taken him to the doctors he has been told to go home and drink beer and slowly reduce …read more

While doing some research for the other Blog I write on here at b5 I came across this “letter to the editor.”
Quoting the writer;
“As a child I suffered from having an alcoholic mother. My only outlet was keeping a diary where I vented. Mother read it and retaliated. At the age of 15, I ran away from home, never to return. Fortunately, my older sister let me stay with them. Who knows what my life would have been like otherwise?”
And I felt that person’s anguish, instantly. Had I done the same thing and my father discovered it, I would also …read more

With a hat tip to Syd who has this link in his Blogroll which he had titled “Codependency and Alcoholism”
Alcoholism and Its Effect on the Family
Something I can immediately identify with… something that, for all practical means and purposes, defines me and then defines my children too.
Here’s what I can pick out of the article which applies directly to my personal life (rather lengthy);

To help them, you have to help yourself first.
Welcome to Al-Anon and Alateen
“For over 50 years, Al-Anon (which includes Alateen for younger members) has been offering hope and help to families and friends of alcoholics. It is estimated that each alcoholic affects the lives of at least four other people… alcoholism is truly a family disease. No matter what relationship you have with an alcoholic, whether they are still drinking or not, all who have been affected by someone else’s drinking can find solutions that lead to serenity in the Al-Anon/Alateen fellowship.”
HTH,
Mark