My family has cut off all contact with a sibling...

[SWBTATTReg]

1. I had two (one has passed) that had serious problems w/ the drink, still have issues w/ the

one sibling that won't listen to doctor's advice, quit drinking and take their medications as they should. Like someone told me, you can led a horse to water, but you can't make it drink.

The family has pretty well cut him out of the family since he continues to drink, go off on 'drunk' calling during the early morning hours (4 a.m.) and rants and raves at other family members for no reason, other than what's in his screwed up mind. My sister is the only one that tries to help him but she is getting very close to shutting him out, etc. I tried to tell my sister this, but at first she resisted/still helped him but now...she's discovering just how right I was, in that you can't make a horse drink water.

Love can't help or cure addicts. And they know that help is out there. No excuses.

They must take that critical first step, and start on the process of healing themselves, no one else can do it for them. I'm sorry I sound pretty grim, but after watching multiple family members in my family go this route (the 'drunk' route, nothing is wrong, etc., my sister and I are all burnt out, since nothing seems to work, and they revert right back to their bad habits).

This is one of the great banes of all families. I wish you the best. By the way, her shutting off the phone sounds so much like my alcoholic brother. He'll call late at night (none of us will answer the phone), moan, rant, rave, whatever comes to his mind (and of course none of his diatribe makes any sense, none of them ever do), and then afterwards, shut off his phone (can't handle the crap he deserves after his 'drunk' dialed calls).

My biggest concern is you ... please watch yourself and take care of yourself. You don't really know the state of their mind (well, you kinda do now, when 'Susan' came over to your place and demanded money). Be careful and perhaps alert the police department of this potential threat to your safety and health (how desperate will 'Susan' get?, bang you on the head for money, etc.?)...

My heart is out there for you and yours. At least, perhaps, you all are now fully aware of this situation. Be on the alert, perhaps change your phone number, etc. (probably too late and you may not want to change the number(s) either (I don't blame you)), otherwise you'll get calls/visits at all times of the day, some of which can be pretty nasty.