“How can I stop my husband from drinking?”
My husband started out as a social drinker but now needs a drink every night. Actually, he doesn't sleep unless he has a drink before bed and I am starting to get really worried. What should I do to help him stop?
4 Answers
Talk to him about what your concerns are, and try to focus on aspects of his behavior when drinking that concern you. That's a good place to start. However, depending on his severity of use and its consequences, you may also wish to consult with a doctor on your own behalf to discuss your concerns, how this may have been affecting you and how to proceed.
He has insomnia (maybe from his drinking) and needs help to get into a healthy habit pattern. Talk to his doctor about his and your concerns about his sleep, mood, and alcohol intake and he can help devise a plan of action or at least some further assessments by a specialist. If he can't stop, you should go to AlAnon, a group for family members of those that drink too much. They can help you to decide on the best course of action for YOU to take to help yourself if he decides not to seek help for himself.
G to Al-Anon meetings and get some educations and tools for how best to manage your own feelings and issues about this. You can suggest help for your husband but you can't make him do much of anything. He should talk to someone about the possibility of a problem and get some recommendations for help.
You can be of help by first discussing with him and determine if he acknowledges the problem. One of the Screening tools is "CAGE"- 1- "CUT" back: has he tried and not been able to; 2-are family and friends "ANGRY" with his drinking; 3- does he feel GUILTY for drinking 4- Does he need an EYEOPENER drink to start the day.
If one is positive his drinking is a problem. If more than one is positive- he needs help.
You might discuss with your primary care physician what the options are for helping him. Most communities now have an physician-addiction medicine specialist with whom you could seek help. Contact the local medical association to obtain information. Most communities also have recovery groups, or known as 12 step groups, such as Alcoholics Anonymous which can also be resourced. You might also consider a 12c step support group, Al-Anon, which is for partners and family of individuals suffering form the medical disorder of alcohol dependence. Be patient and realize it is a medical disorder, not a character defect.
If one is positive his drinking is a problem. If more than one is positive- he needs help.
You might discuss with your primary care physician what the options are for helping him. Most communities now have an physician-addiction medicine specialist with whom you could seek help. Contact the local medical association to obtain information. Most communities also have recovery groups, or known as 12 step groups, such as Alcoholics Anonymous which can also be resourced. You might also consider a 12c step support group, Al-Anon, which is for partners and family of individuals suffering form the medical disorder of alcohol dependence. Be patient and realize it is a medical disorder, not a character defect.
