Can someone explain Denial to me

[XiCi]

I have a close relative in hospital for the 3rd time in as many months following an alcoholic fit. In the past 6months he's lost his wife, his house, his job and his health is deteriorating. During his last hospital stay we cleared tens and tens of bottles of vodka from his house. Despite all this he is still telling everyone he has no problem with drink. This last time he was hooked up to a drip while they detoxed him still saying that he has no idea why they keep mentioning alcohol to him. I just don't get it. How does denial work. Does he actually believe it himself or just can't face up to the problem. What does it take to get past it?

Thank you I didn’t realise these groups were helpful to people that didn’t ha e a problem,

AlAnon is specifically for the relatives of alcoholics - the alcoholics themselves attend AA, though there is some crossover at times.

SMART recovery have looked at their CBT based programme for alddicts and identified which parts of it could be reconfigured to be helpful to their families. Support for family and friends is increadibly important because the toll addiction takes on people around the addicts is so often invisible.

Al-Anon is for friends as well as relatives. al-anon.org/newcomers/faq/ the alcoholic doesn’t need to be in AA or any other recovery programme.

Whatever you do don’t feel responsible for your friend. Detach with love but do detach. She may up the stakes as she feels you detaching but don’t get sucked back in. Sometimes the best thing you can do for the alcoholic is allow them to take the consequences of their drinking.