In this view, the alcoholic's drinking is seen as a way to neutralize the overfunctioner's control. Thus, alcoholic marriages often become struggles for control. Drinking is an attempt to minimize the stress from internal or external events. Of course, using alcohol to cope with problems only adds more stress to family life. Drinking functions as a smoke screen for other marital and family problems.
Families try to hide or avoid problems through alcohol.
If the drinking abates, these underlying problems may surface and the family will have to face them. Drinking creates an illusion of predictable family interaction. Regulates emotional intimacy. During the sober phase, they typically re-establish emotional closeness. Alcoholics, unable to express anger directly, resort to drinking to express frustration and rage.