Dad diagnosed with alcoholism & depression: how do I help him?

[madmumNika]

Hi
My Dad has recently been diagnosed with alcoholism, something that in many ways hasn't come as a surprise but has in a way to him as he's been in denial for a loooong time. The GP has started to arrange counselling and they're keeping an eye on his liver (it was a routine blood test that showed liver probs etc). I live far away from my dad but we speak weekly and are fairly close. My parents divorced (very messily) when I was 5, something which he never really got over and still 24 years later feels accounts for his depression/general unhappiness with life. He lives alone and is lonely.

Any advice on how I can help support him would be very much appreciated as feeling a bit lost....

Thanks xx

There's a great book called When someone you love is depressed. You can get from amazon. Try it and hope it all goes well x

How has he taken his diagnosis of alcoholism?

Dad seems to have finally accepted he does have a problem- think he's been in denial about both depression and alcoholism (which in my mind seem to go hand in hand for him) for years but the blood test and GP confronting him has finally brought it home. He said he's determined to try everything to get better and is happy to see a counsellor. I'm just worried as I know loneliness really doesn't help but he has no friends or family very close by... And I'm not sure how helpful it is to be only on the end of the phone. But I do encourage him to talk and try to listen although he still dwells on events from so long ago like he just can't move on and I find it hard at times as he really blames my mother and stepdad for a lot of his unhappiness still.

Thanks for the book suggestion Lonely

xx

It's a positive thing that he admits to and accepts he has a problem with alcohol, and that this is affecting his mood and the way he feels.

Counselling would be really useful (I think with a therapist with skills and expertise in working with addiction).

There are also organisations such as Alcoholics Anomymous, which he can access straight away and which are free of charge. Members often meet with the person and introduce them to other (well) recovering alcoholics and meetings.

His GP should also be able to refer him to appropriate agencies (private and NHS).