Reply To: Living with an Alcoholic mum

#36444
Chica
Participant

I’ve joined this forum because my sister in law is an end stage alcoholic as far as I can see, and my niece lives with her and is bearing the brunt of everything. I’m looking for ways to advise her how to deal with her mum.

She’s always been a big drinker, but my brother passed away 2 years ago from cancer, and now she is basically drinking herself to death. She drinks at least 2 bottles of wine a day, more at weekends. She drinks until she passes out. She is managing to hold down a job, but she works from home 3 days a week, so she can drink while she’s working. The 2 days she’s in the office, she’s taking drink to work and foimg to the pub at lunch time. She has terrible tremors every morning until she has a drink.

My niece is in her 20’s and feels responsible for her mum. She’s basically turned into her mum’s carer, even though she’s grieving badly for her dad.

I’ve told her that her mum is making her own life choices, and that she is not responsible for babysitting her, but it’s a terrible situation for her to be in.

I’m not even sure how much longer she will live like this. Does anyone know? She drinks probably 18 bottles of wine a week at least, maybe even quite a bit more. She’s definitely alcohol dependent because of her tremors, but hasn’t had any major incidents like seizures or anything. She doesn’t eat anything at all, she only drinks. I don’t think she wets herself, but I know she’s stopped showering.

Does anyone know how long she can live like this? Or what is likely to happen next? Or have any advice?

DONATE