Question about alcohol abuse (how to help a relative?)

[Will090]

Such things as alcohol and cigarettes are unacceptable in our house. And how surprised I was to find an empty scotch bottle hidden in the garden after the visit of my wife’s father. As far as I know, he has never drunk alcohol before, but since his wife died he changed a lot.
As it turned out after I talked to him, he can't cope with the loss and found solace in a bottle. Then feeling guilty and shame made him continue. These things have a way of snowballing.
Most in the world I want to help him. I understand that his dependency is mostly psychological, and primarily he need support in overcoming his guilty conscience. I think about faith-based treatment and have already found such places here Christian Drug Rehab: Does Faith-Based Addiction Treatments Work?. But he’s very obstinate. He refused the other ways of treatment I suggested him before (he said he didn’t want to be a burden to anybody). What do you think about this idea? And how to сonvince him?

 

[Fragrant Grace]

Greetings @Will090

Sorry to hear of this situation.

The Lord will lead you in which was to best support your wifes father if you seek Him for guidance.

In terms of rehabilitation services......your father-in-law would need to be ready and willing to engage in whatever programme is being offered.

So initially start with much prayer and support awaiting the Lords leading.

Blessings

For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,
That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;
That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;
And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
Unto Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
Ephesians 3:14-21

 

[Quantrill]

Such things as alcohol and cigarettes are unacceptable in our house. And how surprised I was to find an empty scotch bottle hidden in the garden after the visit of my wife’s father. As far as I know, he has never drunk alcohol before, but since his wife died he changed a lot.
As it turned out after I talked to him, he can't cope with the loss and found solace in a bottle. Then feeling guilty and shame made him continue. These things have a way of snowballing.
Most in the world I want to help him. I understand that his dependency is mostly psychological, and primarily he need support in overcoming his guilty conscience. I think about faith-based treatment and have already found such places here Christian Drug Rehab: Does Faith-Based Addiction Treatments Work?. But he’s very obstinate. He refused the other ways of treatment I suggested him before (he said he didn’t want to be a burden to anybody). What do you think about this idea? And how to сonvince him?

You can't save someone from something you want them saved from, but they don't. It will always only aggravate. My opinion is that a 'guilty conscience' is probably not the problem. If he is retired, with the loss of his wife, then boredom becomes the worst enemy.

Quantrill

 

[Hekuran]

And loneliness.

In agreement with the above posts saying you role is probably not to find solutions. Better to think how to be supportive of you father in law at a difficult time rather than the issue of alcohol.

Sounds like you have been able to have an honest conversation on a very difficult subject already, so that's a very solid starting point.