Alcohol is often present in the contexts of couple and family life, as it is often linked to celebrations of events and events of family members, but sometimes, precisely because it is at hand, it can become a refuge for some.
When occasional, controlled use turns into overconsumption or abuse, alcohol can lead to a number of negative effects in marital menage, family life, and children’s lives.
It is an established fact that alcohol can enter family contexts beginning with the choices that lead to marriage or the decision to become parents, and then to couple satisfaction, or to spousal violence
Several factors must be considered when examining the physical, mental and general health condition of a family. It should be observed whether antisocial behavior is present and whether there is alcohol consumption by either the man or the woman, or both, and if so, the consequences on marital and family processes.
It should be observed whether there are drinking habits and in what amounts to understand whether there is a link between excessive drinking and violent behavior, between drinking and child neglect, between drinking and lack of marital satisfaction and the presence, instead, of marital conflict.
The following elements should be kept in mind:
- the alcoholic in the family context is under the watchful eye of family members who observe his or her behaviors in order to anticipate negative events in time.
- Children of the alcoholic parent somehow have to accelerate their own growth precisely because of lack of emotional serenity, being constantly worried about the breakdown of family balance due to excessive consumption by their father, or mother or sometimes both.
- The sober partner ends up shouldering the greatest responsibilities, even those of the alcohol-dependent partner, becoming the sole anchor for the entire family.
- The addicted partner tends to isolate himself and make thoughts of abandonment, jealousy, loneliness his own, taking refuge even more in alcohol.
- A further push toward worsening the condition may come from the sexual rejection of the nondependent partner, who in turn intends not to go along with the degradation of the family.
It is sometimes noted that alcohol is often used as a means for negative behavior, such as to conceal some form of malaise or emotional reaction.
In today’s society, couples, especially young couples, are often caught up in busy work schedules during the week, only to drink to excess over the weekend, a habit that can foster heated arguments or marital clashes.
Family Alcoholism Therapy is a concrete help for patients to fight addiction and endure through difficult times, providing them with tools to avoid repeating the habit of excessive alcohol consumption.
Alcohol addictionisa psychological condition in which the person ends up not performing their parental duties, neglecting their children, who, being vulnerable, may develop psychological damage and trauma in their growth.development.
It is equally likely, in some cases, that these children may be victims of physical abuse, including sexual abuse. Once adults, they may develop an addiction to alcohol.
There may be several ways to approach family alcoholism therapy that can work adequately in treating addiction, including some that are particularly well followed:
- systemic-relational family therapy;
- family behavioral therapy;
- self-help groups;
Family therapy is a form of group therapy, although the focus is on resolution in the sense of healing the relationships of those who have lived with behavioral and psychological problems.
Family therapy and social support provided by help groups are helpful in witnessing to alcohol-dependent people that they are not alone in their goal of getting out of addiction.
Making family members participate can yield better results and greater certainty of continuity in therapy.
