The cruel irony is that families do know. They live with the horrible secret every day. And the holidays only mean more stress for them as they anticipate what can happen while their loved one is under the influence. So family members are afraid that the alcoholic might drink too much and embarrass them and they'll worry over whether they will make a scene at dinner. But family gatherings and social occasions don't have to be a dreaded time for those affected by alcohol, as they can serve as a turning point for the family or the chemically dependent.
Alcoholics are masters at denial.
But Richardson says less than five percent of alcoholics are stereotypical Skid Row bums. Feeling stressed out, or becoming isolated and turning to alcohol for comfort. Sometimes families blame depression for their loved one's dependency. Depression is an element of alcoholism, Richardson says, but usually by the time a person has a problem with alcohol, they've got both problems. They are used to drinking to cope with depression, or drinking to medicate anxiety.