How to Talk to an Alcoholic in Denial

People with alcohol use disorder will continue to drink even when drinking causes negative consequences, like losing a job or destroying relationships with people they love. They may know that their alcohol use negatively affects their lives, but it’s often not enough to make them stop drinking. Alcoholism has been known by a variety of terms, including alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence. In many cases, the blaming and lying will not stop until the alcoholic admits to having a drinking problem. To help these individuals consider rehab, many families hold interventions. These meetings allow family members to persuade a loved one to seek help for addiction.

Encouraging Professional Help

Instead, they’re dealing with a very real psychological aspect of addiction. More than 29.5 million people ages 12 and older have an alcohol use disorder (AUD).[1] understanding the dangers of alcohol People with alcoholism denial don’t believe they’re part of this group. Alcoholic denial is a coping mechanism people use to avoid treatment for problem drinking.

Proband follow-ups, evaluation of SDPS probands’ offspring, and offspring follow-ups

This can help the person with AUD feel more at ease and might help them accept that they need treatment for their alcohol use. However, many people with AUD use denial as a self-defense mechanism. People using denial alcohol detox diet eating healthy during alcohol withdrawal are unlikely to admit they use alcohol heavily and that their relationship with alcohol is unhealthy. This can be very frustrating for friends and family, but there are ways to make a conversation easier.

1. Remember, enabling behaviors often stem from a place of care but can hinder progress toward recovery.
2. Living with someone in active addiction affects every aspect of life—from work to finances, physical well-being to relationships with family and friends.
3. When we are discussing addiction, we often come across the term alcoholism addiction.
4. This article introduces a number of AUD topics that link to other Core articles for more detail.
5. There are several signs of denial to look out for in your loved ones or in yourself.
6. There may be many reasons why someone is hesitant to seek help — from lack of awareness to stigma and shame.

Helpful resources

Denial is closely linked to addiction, especially in those with an alcohol use disorder. The person can’t or won’t see that their drinking is out of hand and they need substance abuse treatment. Despite the hardships of this condition, there are ways to help people with alcoholic denial and alcohol abuse issues. By rationalizing their behavior, individuals in denial avoid facing the truth common medications used for drug and alcohol detox about the negative effects of their alcohol consumption and maintain a sense of control over their drinking habits. This psychological defense mechanism can be challenging to break through but is essential for recovery from addiction. Denial is a common defense mechanism for those struggling with alcoholism, making it difficult for them to recognize the extent of their problem.

Residential treatment programs

Typically, a diagnosis of alcohol use disorder doesn’t require any other type of diagnostic test. There’s a chance your doctor may order blood work to check your liver function if you show signs or symptoms of liver disease. Finally, a person moves from denial to accepting their addiction when they recognize the issue and are mobilized to change it. For some, blaming others protects them from taking responsibility themselves. Denial, blame and dishonesty may anger loved ones, but it is important to understand that these actions are a product of the disease rather than a true representation of the person’s character. Alcohol denial can involve lying about how much they drink, when they drink, and how those habits make them feel.

It often takes repeated conversations, sometimes over months or years, to succeed in your efforts. Fighting with the person could deepen their denial and make them less likely to talk with you again. Look for ways to remind the person that you love them and just want them to get better.

Drugs & Supplements

This article introduces a number of AUD topics that link to other Core articles for more detail. Explore Mayo Clinic studies testing new treatments, interventions and tests as a means to prevent, detect, treat or manage this condition. Sign up for free and stay up to date on research advancements, health tips, current health topics, and expertise on managing health. Group 1 and 2 offspring comparisons were repeated for the 106-male offspring, 84 (79.2%) of whom were deniers. Analyses using the 70 female offspring alone could not be adequately interpreted because there were only 9 non-deniers. Addiction can be a never-ending cycle because addictive substances are both the comfort and the problem for the person who is addicted to them.

You’re likely to start by seeing your primary health care provider. If your provider suspects that you have a problem with alcohol, you may be referred to a mental health provider. If your pattern of drinking results in repeated significant distress and problems functioning in your daily life, you likely have alcohol use disorder.

People with an alcohol use disorder can be highly functioning or compromised. Learn more about what influences a person’s susceptibility to alcohol dependence and the warning signs, physical and behavioral symptoms, and stages of alcoholism. It is not surprising that regression analyses in the current data support Hypotheses 2–4, each of which have support in the literature. In both generations, denial was more common among AUD individuals who endorsed fewer DSM-IV criteria, reported lower maximum drinks, and those with alcohol abuse rather than dependence. However, the level of alcohol involvement among these deniers was not benign.

Recent studies suggest that the same areas of the brain affected by addiction may be responsible for self-awareness. This means that individuals with alcohol use disorder might struggle to fully comprehend and confront the seriousness of their addiction. Individuals in denial may justify their drinking by comparing themselves to others who they believe are worse off or have more severe drinking habits. They use this comparison as a way to downplay their own behavior and convince themselves that they don’t have a problem. For example, someone might express that they can handle alcohol just fine or that they only drink socially; it’s not a problem. This deflection helps them maintain control over how others perceive their drinking while avoiding facing the reality that they may have an unhealthy relationship with alcohol.

When it comes to overcoming alcoholism denial and taking the necessary steps toward recovery, finding the right support is crucial. Encourage them to seek help, whether through support groups, counseling, or recovery programs tailored for alcohol use disorder (AUD). Remind them that admitting the need for help is the first step towards recovery. When discussing their issues, gently ask them about any challenges they may be facing that could possibly be related to their drinking habits. By opening up a dialogue in a non-confrontational manner, you allow them to reflect on how alcohol might be impacting their life.

Each example seems like proof to someone in denial that their habits are normal. If you’re not familiar with the Twelve Step recovery, you might also want to do some research into how recovery support groups, such as Alcoholics Anonymous, can help. Here are some basics about Alcoholics Anonymous meetings and Twelve Step recovery practices. Here, we briefly share the basics about AUD, from risk to diagnosis to recovery.

In fact, by the time families reach out for help with a loved one’s alcoholism, the disease may have progressed to a crisis level involving an accident, lost job, arrest or medical emergency. The short-term effects of alcohol abuse can make people prone to violent behavior, injuries and accidents. Tables 3 and ​and44 focus on 176 AUD offspring who were primarily European American, 40% of whom were women, 29% had ever been married, and individuals who reported on average 15 years of education.