Can drinkers recover without seeking professional help?

Can drinkers recover without seeking professional help or going into rehab? Is professional and or medical help always needed?  This video addresses this important question and also offers some recommendations.

There is a large body of evidence that shows that many (some would say most) drinkers can recover without the aid of treatment services.  While that may be true, we need to strongly advise that for someone who is severely dependent on alcohol should always seek medical help.  Withdrawals (sweats, shakes, anxiety) are always unpleasant.  However, if the drinker suffers the DT’s (Delirium Tremens – a severe form of withdrawal characterised by hallucinations, confusion) is a dangerous medical condition and can be fatal.

11 Replies to “Can drinkers recover without seeking professional help?”

  1. I enjoyed your video, my husband a harden drinker. He started drinking in 2000 when his father passed away and over 4yrs period he steadily drank more than his mother passed away. So in the last 21yrs he thinks nothing of having 18 plus cans a day more when not working. He turns 65 this year and I already know what retirement going to be. And yes I have asked him to get help and I will standby him and take every step with him, that fell on deaf ears it’s as if he scared of taking that step. We have been together for 44yrs yes I have had all the threats and been hit had the police involved, that did nothing to stop his drinking. At times I think you need to have an accident to land him in hospital, to get that wake up call I could go on and on about my life with a drinker but I won’t I live my life as I see fit and spend alot of my time with my daughter and grandchildren. My saying is if you want to drink fine you do and go ahead and kill yourself as you don’t seem to care about me or anything else. That’s what I always shout at him then walk away.

    1. I feel your pain. Same here, but although hubby doesn’t drink 18 beers at a time, the effects of his drinking are obvious. He also doesn’t eat when he’s drinking because he doesn’t want to kill the buzz. He did have an accident last year, which I mentioned before..told him if the police ever pick him up not to bother calling me. I will hang up. I have to almost “forget” about him to keep my sanity.

    2. Good for you for making a life for yourself with the rest of your family. It takes strength and resilience not to get sucked down too.

    3. Wow that sounded like life completely! My husband is 63 and we have been married for 36 years and separated for the last 6 years. He left drunk for the last time I wouldn’t let him back into the home – he quit working sure his last employer and is now living on a trailer park with his income and never tried once to agree to change and I would have been with him completely- nope he instead said “ so what I drink her over it “ we’ll all my kids are grown and my youngest daughter had decided to stay with me and let me tell you I am a different person – it is amazing I thought I would DIE without him – but no instead I have not experienced so much peace and calmness. I mow I’m living for me learning what I like and what I want to do. My life has completely changed for the best. And he is still living in the trailer I get message every so often ( I had to block him as he would call every night after he was drunk ) and he is still at it – so if he doesn’t feel it is a problem and chooses to live in a trailer instead of a beautiful home because of his drinking there is nothing more I can do but to move ahead with my life ! Just wanted to share

    4. Oh and he did have a struck on the porch while drinking – he got over that ( I stayed in the hospital with him die 4 days) it started again so accident or hitting rock bottom sometimes doesn’t work it is a strong desire

  2. Another good video. Thank you. Just had this chat with the hubby last night. He says if he gets help, he knows what that means..that he can’t drink at all, so he says he will not do that.. but also thinks there is nothing that bad anyhow, so he says he will do it himself and not drink as much. Heard this many times, and sure, some evenings he is not as messed up as others so he feels that keeps his addiction in check and me off his back. The nights he is messed up is more than not and this is no way to live. He will never get help..that much I know. If I could leave I would, and telling him that changes nothing.

  3. Thank you all for sharing and supporting each other. It is lovely to see people come out of the shadows and sharing, it helps others to realise that they are not alone, that they are not the only ones in this position. That is a great relief for many people.

    What would also be great is if you could share a bit about how you cope. Do you have any strategies that get you through the difficult days? Or do you have any tips that you could pass on that seem to make a difference to you, your family or your drinker and may help someone in the same situation.

    Also don’t forget, if you are not a member already, why not join Bottled Up? Its completely free and there are many resources to help you in the member’s area of the website. You can join it here

    1. Thank you John. I ride my bike daily on the local trail. It is my release and I am sure to make time for it no matter what. If it is raining or bad weather, I dress for and walk instead. For me, it all about nature..our gift from God.

  4. Very helpful video,my husband is a drinker,has been for many years.He drinks way over the recommended guidelines every day (his reason is he needs it to go to sleep) then every now and again he will also have a ‘binge’ which means he will wake up and carry on drinking all day and night,that lasts for days,which means living with him is a nightmare and then he’ll stop and feel ill for a bit (i think it’s withdrawal but he convinces himself it’s a bug) then he goes back to his usual drinking pattern.We’ve had moments when he says he wants to get help (these are often when he’s been drinking,but then when i’ve tried talking to him when he’s in a sober state about his drinking he disregards it.He gets defensive about it and says the gp won’t help and he needs rehab instead even though the last time he went to a gp was long ago.

  5. Good video and its true -not ” one size fits all” to resolve/help.
    My partner also has the view that I want him to stop drinking all together, so many heated talks on this. Truthfully I did and in my heart I still do- this wont happen Iv been told many times! Then I found Bottled Up and things changed for the better. Now I just put it that – can you cut down on the drinking/ I dont go looking for his bottles I dont pour it away any more. I refuse to clean up after him ( still find this really hard because my youngest now gets up and can see the mess) I will not have important conversation with him whilst drinking -I always started on him when drunk- why bother he just drank more and then doesnt remember. I liked to remind him what he did/said whilst drunk ,again made it worse. My anxiety has gone right down. I have set a time that after 2am if he has chosen to drink he doesnt come to bed. Some may think all abit harsh but trust me I feel better, Im getting to be the person I know I am. He has made progress and I do make the best of when not drunk- still along way to go.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *