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How He Can Get Sober Without Admitting He's An Alcoholic

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How He Can Get Sober Without Admitting He's An Alcoholic [EXPERT]
Are you worried about his habit?
Does your husband have a drinking problem? Learn how you can help.

Let's look at an example of this approach. You may find that he has a few drinks on the way home from work and then has a couple more before and during dinner. After dinner, instead of sitting down with you and the family to talk or watch TV, he falls into a drunken stupor. The family does not want to be around him, and when they are, he criticizes them before falling asleep.

Understandably, your first instinct is to try and make him see that he is drinking too much — but this will almost certainly lead to an argument. He probably says that he doesn't drink too much; he says that he is tired or at best, he drank a bit too much because he is under stress. This makes you angrier, and makes the subject even more difficult to raise in the future. 3 Tips For Living Together Happily Over Age 50

More from YourTango: Why Did Ozzy Relapse?

Instead of focusing on how much he drinks and whether or not he is an alcoholic, focus on how his behavior affects his family. For example, you could tell him how the kids want to spend time with him, but he often falls asleep, making it difficult to do so. They would love to get time to talk with their dad, but they seldom get that opportunity these days.

The idea here is that by talking about the consequences of his drinking as opposed to of the actual drinking itself, the discussion is less threatening. It is also more difficult to deny and more likely to lead to some positive change.

You may think that this is an unsatisfactory method of dealing with the situation, or that what you really want is the acknowledgement that he is an alcoholic. However, this method has been found to be more effective than a direct confrontation, as it leads to less resistance. You need to ask yourself this question: do you want to be effective or right? 3 Essential Tips For Traveling As A Couple

More from YourTango: Your Pregnancy: To Drink Or Not To Drink

For more on this topic and other related issues visit Bottled Up.

Article contributed by
Advanced Member

Dr John McMahon & Lou Lewis

Author

Dr John McMahon & Lou Lewis

Bottled Up

john@247helpyourself.com

Location: Exeter, DEV, United Kingdom
Credentials: BS, PhD
Specialties: Addiction, Drug and Alcohol, Family Support
Other Articles/News by Dr John McMahon & Lou Lewis:

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Your Pregnancy: To Drink Or Not To Drink

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Sometimes researchers—even very good researchers—don't ask the obvious questions. Sometimes, they just get too close to their objects of study and forget to step back and take in the wider view. Many years ago, a French scientist was researching the power of electrical impulse to influence behavior and emotions. He demonstrated it ... Read more

Ozzy Osbourne's Relapse: Should Sharon Divorce Him?

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The Osbournes have survived 30 years of addiction, showbiz and scathing headlines in their marriage, but it may be the end for this celebrity couple. After ten years of sobriety, Ozzy Osbourne has relapsed on a binge of booze and drugs. He's reportedly gotten clean in recent months, but it was enough to provoke the media into a investigative frenzy on ... Read more

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