Support when dealing with an alcoholic family member

[OneMintEagle]

I have a family member (close blood relative) who is an alcoholic. The high functioning kind. They are severely ill physically because of liver damage and struggling to quit drinking. I’m supporting them and professional help for them is in place. However, it’s taking a mental toll on me both in dealing with the situation and in reflecting on what may have led my relative down this path.

Am looking for recommendations for some professional help for me (counselling? Support?) Perhaps like what McMillan offer families dealing with cancer but for alcoholics?

Honestly if they don’t want to stop drinking then your best option is to step away. You can’t save someone in this position.
Al anon supports families.

Al-anon(AA support arm for families) and SMART recovery also has family support services. I also liked the book How to Understand and Help an Addict by Andrew Proulx, he is a doctor who has recovered from alcohol and drug addiction

sorry you are going through this. I was in a similar position to you with my db. I had counselling and it helped me put things in perspective. The counselling I had was via work so I can’t share their details but wanted to let you know that it did help me to get through such a difficult time

Thanks, I do think I get some counselling support through work so I’ll look into that and if that doesn’t work out I’ll look at the other options suggested.

Sounds like a plan. But you need to steel yourself to accepting that sometimes, you can’t help. I’ve tried a couple of times - failed. There’s nothing so hard as walking away but sometimes you have to, to protect yourself.

Alcoholics- they never give up drinking.