If you are in direct contact with a family member struggling with alcoholism, be prepared for the anger, fear, and lashing out that you might see when that person feels cornered or at risk.
Fighting, yelling, blaming, and slinging of names and accusations will put you on the defensive.
The decision that you will need to make is clear: Will you play into the game and lash back out, or will you avoid the trap?
Dysfunctional relationships can center around the dance of anger. One person pokes the other, the argument escalates, and the circle goes round and round. In the end, the behavior doesn’t change.
You will feel hurt. The person who struggles with alcoholism shields themselves with righteous anger, and no one wins.
You can stand up and refuse to take part in such baiting. You can set a strong boundary and let the person know that you’re finished with the arguing and can go on your own way.
The problem centers around whether you are willing to put a hard line in the sand and let the person know that if they cross that line then you are cutting off contact.
To stop the hurt and pain, then you might need to withdraw from the fray.
Empty promises about their giving up alcohol, but no sign of their accepting treatment is a sign that now you can turn the page.
And if you’re reading this and are not dealing with a family member who is an alcoholic, you still might be struggling against dysfunctional behaviors. Take control of your life, remove yourself from the problem, and get help.
You deserve better.
If you feel that, you’re in physical danger, please reach out to the National Domestic Violence Hotline.
You deserve it.
Like what you’ve read? Be sure to check out my other posts in my Let Go and Be Free blog.