Conclusion of WHAT CAN THE FAMILY DO?

Accept help from others.  Proverbs 17:17 says: "A true companion is loving all the time, and is a brother that is born for when there is distress." When there is an alcoholic in your family, there is distress.  You need help.  Do not hesitate to rely on 'true companions' for support.  (Proverbs 18:24) Talking with others who understand the problem or who have face a similar situation may provide you with practical suggestions on what to do and what not to do.  But be balanced. Speak with those you trust, those who will protect your "confidential talk." -Proverbs 11:13. 

Learn to trust Christian elders.  The elders in the Christian congregation can be a great source of help.  These mature men are educated in God's Word and experienced in the application of its principles.  They can prove to be "like a hiding place from the wind and a place of concealment from the rainstorm, like streams of water in a waterless country, like the shadow of a heavy crag in an exhausted  land."  (Isaiah 32:2) Not only do Christian elders protect the congregation  as a  whole from harmful influences but they also comfort, refresh, and take a personal interest in individuals who have problems.  Take full advantage of their help.

Above all, draw strength from Jehovah.  The Bible warmly assures us:  "Jehovah is near to those that are broken at heart; and those who are crushed in spirit he saves." (Psalm 34:18) If you feel broken at heart or crushed in spirit because of the pressures of living with an alcoholic family member, know that "Jehovah is near."  He understands how difficult your family situation is. -1 Peter 5:6, 7. 

Believing in what Jehovah says in his Word can help you to cope with anxiety.  (Psalm 130:3, 4; Matthew 6:25-34; 1 John 3:19, 20)  Studying God's Word can living by its principles puts you in line to receive the help of God's holy spirit, which can equip you with "power beyond what is normal" to cope from one day to the next. -2 Corinthians 4:7. 

Abuse of alcohol can lead to another problem that damages many families-domestic violence.

Next time: DAMAGE CAUSED BY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

From the book:  THE SECRET OF FAMILY HAPPINESS, 1996