If you are in a situation where you think: <<I think my mother is an alcoholic>> we offer solutions. Discovering that your mother has an addiction is terrifying. What should be done in such a case? Who should you turn to? Can she overcome her addiction? It’s normal to feel fear, doubt, despair, sadness… when you find out that a loved one suffers from a substance use disorder. Your mother might be an alcoholic or a drug addict. If so, it’s very important that you know what to do. Regardless of her situation, you should know that there is a solution for her. You must not lose hope because you can find ways to help your mother. At CCAdicciones, we are at your disposal for everything you need, both to support your mother in the recovery process and to provide help to you. The family of someone suffering from an addiction also needs professional help.
Signs that warn of an addiction
Perhaps you are in a situation where you suspect your mother has alcoholism or drug addiction, but you are not sure. Maybe you’ve noticed some strange behaviors lately and you think she might be drinking or taking drugs. You’d be surprised how common this is. Alcoholism and drug addiction are not always obvious. Therefore, we explain some of the signs that can alert you to an addiction so you can react as soon as possible.
Have you noticed any of these signs of addiction in your mother?
- Slurred speech
- Memory problems
- Feels extremely tired most of the time
- On the contrary, has much more energy than usual
- Glassy eyes
- Very small or very large pupils
- Suffers episodes of confusion
Women and addictions: my mother is an alcoholic
It’s not surprising that so many mothers feel the need to turn to substances. Many of them use drugs or alcohol as coping mechanisms. Mothers frequently develop problems like depression or anxiety due to having many burdens. When this happens, they often choose substances as a way to alleviate their symptoms, as a defense mechanism to momentarily forget their reality. When an addiction develops, it can lead to depression; in fact, these are pathologies that usually go hand in hand, known as dual pathology. The most important thing is for you to know that, regardless of the cause of your mother’s addiction, she can get help to recover with the necessary treatment.
How can I encourage my mother to go to a detox center?
You’ve gathered the courage to have a conversation with your mother about going to rehabilitation to quit alcohol. But you feel lost and don’t know where to start or how to do it.
Follow these steps to address addiction
We know it’s a complicated situation. That’s why we offer some tips that can help you a lot, such as:
- Learn about her addiction and try to understand it. Those who have never been addicted find it difficult to understand. Addiction is a misunderstood disease. The more you know about addiction, the more you can help your mother.
- Have a conversation with her when she is sober. It’s important to talk to your mother when she is not under the influence of alcohol. If she is sober, your message is more likely to be heard and make her reflect.
- Appeal to her emotions. Let her know how her addiction is affecting you honestly. Tell her how you feel, what you think…
- Be firm, but sensitive at the same time. Show her your support, let her know that you are by her side to help and support her in everything she needs. Let her know that she will not be alone.
Are you enabling your mother’s addiction?
Unfortunately, there are situations where families are complicit in allowing addictions to continue. They don’t realize it, but their actions make it much easier for their loved ones to keep using. This could also be a problem within your family. Enabling is when you do something for your mother to help her, but it actually encourages her addiction. If you are doing this, you are probably not aware of it. You may not realize that many of your actions only facilitate her use. Some examples of enabling include:
- Going with her to buy drugs or alcohol
- Overprotecting and defending her
- Taking on her responsibilities
- Lying to other people for her
- Avoiding talking to her about her addiction
Too often, mothers are allowed to continue addictive behavior because their children overlook it. If you are doing any of the above, the time to stop is now.
If your mother is an alcoholic, she needs treatment
An alcoholic person needs detoxification treatment to quit alcohol. Professional treatment is the best option for your mother. She will need to detox from alcohol.
Why does your mother need alcohol rehabilitation?
Your mother needs to go to a specialized addiction center to receive detoxification treatment and be able to quit alcohol. She may have been relying on alcohol as a way to cope with her problems. If she doesn’t learn new ways to manage them, she will quickly return to drinking again. This is what going to a detox center will do for her.
The goal of alcoholism detox programs
When your mother undergoes alcoholism treatment, the goal will be twofold. First, they will want to determine the cause of the addiction. Her alcohol dependence may have been caused by a co-occurring disorder, such as anxiety or depression. It’s also possible that it was caused by excessive stress in her life. Second, they will work closely with her to help treat the cause and offer other ways to cope. A relapse prevention plan will be implemented for her to practice after treatment. Contact us if you think your mother is an alcoholic.
