If the alcoholic friend is not receptive to help, keep trying and seek professional assistance. Denial How to help an alcoholic in denial in alcoholism is complex as there are different reasons an alcoholic hesitates to get the professional help needed. Friends also invite alcoholics to bars to drink, unintentionally contributing to the AUD. In a practical sense, families and friends protect alcoholics by covering for them. What they do not realise, is that every time an alcoholic turns to alcohol as a means to cope, the long term pattern of addiction is strengthened.

Why Do People Deny That They Have a Drinking Problem?

If your loved one is in denial or doesn’t want to seek treatment, they’re not alone. According to the 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health,about 14.5 million people have an AUD, and yet only 7% received treatment that year. In short, “there’s not a single image of AUD,” points out Sabrina Spotorno, a clinical social worker and alcoholism and substance abuse counselor at Monument. People who are high functioning with a drinking problem “seem to have everything together,” says Matt Glowiak, PhD, LCPC, a certified advanced alcohol and drug counselor. They’re able to successfully manage tasks around their work, school, family, and finances, he says. There are empathetic, actionable ways to support someone with an alcohol use disorder (AUD) who may be stuck in denial.

Is denial characteristic of an alcohol addiction?

• It’s important to remember that in the end, you can’t force someone to think a certain way.
• At Help4Additcion, we are committed to fostering a safe, respectful, and inclusive environment for everyone.
• As a supportive friend or family member, your role is not to judge or criticise them but rather to offer empathy and understanding.
• If you have a loved one who is struggling with alcoholism in denial, it can be challenging to know how to help.
• If needed, consider seeking professional support or advice from organisations like Adfam or contacting the Frank drugs helpline for assistance in finding the right sort of help.

If they’re not receptive, keep trying — and set boundaries to protect your own well-being. Instead, she recommends seeking more formal support with Al-Anon or therapy to help you create boundaries and care for yourself. Rehabilitation from alcohol can be one of the most challenging addiction recovery journeys. You can see the signs, the impact on the person’s life, and the pain that they’re going through, but their mind has decided to block those factors out.

Expressing Concern and Care

Book a free, confidential chat with one of our support team members to explore how we can help. If you’ve tried to stop but find yourself slipping back, or drug addiction if using has become a regular part of coping, it’s okay to ask for help. If you’d still like to talk, we’re always here — feel free to book a call or chat with someone now. Plus, we’re always introducing new features to optimize your in-app experience. We recently launched our in-app chatbot, Melody, powered by the world’s most powerful AI technology. Melody is here to help as you adjust to a life with less (or no) alcohol.

This lack of recognition of the link between excessive drinking and personal difficulties allows the addiction to continue unchecked. To avoid enabling their behaviours, you need to set clear boundaries and prioritise your own well-being. It can be incredibly challenging to watch someone you care about struggle with alcoholism, especially when they are in denial. However, it is important to recognise that enabling their behaviour only perpetuates the problem.

• Begin by addressing the issue privately and calmly, while demonstrating your concern for their well-being.
• So, denial – which is considered to be a defense mechanism, becomes their way of dealing with realities that are very uncomfortable to face head-on.
• To properly treat the whole person and not just the addiction, Nova Recovery Center offers a long-term alcohol rehab program that lasts a full 90 days.
• For example, they may dismiss concerns about their drinking by saying, „I can handle it,” or „I don’t have a problem because I still go to work every day.”

Browse our directory or reach out to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) for more information about addiction recovery. Additionally, long-term effects of alcohol result in brain damage and compromise different functions of the brain, including insight and other frontal lobe processes.