Living With an Alcoholic Spouse: What to Do and How to Cope

Initiating a conversation about alcohol use can be daunting but is necessary for fostering change. Soberlink’s Remote Breathalyzer is not your average breathalyzer; it is an all-encompassing recovery system that helps its users stay sober while promoting consistent accountability throughout the process. It’s also important to ask your loved one directly what you can do to help, especially during special events where alcohol may be served. An online sobriety support group might be a helpful addition to care.

• It leads to emotional and physical abuse coupled with financial difficulties, broken relationships and other addictive disorders.
• It’s important to express your concerns without judgment or blame.

Be Specific and Offer Examples

One of the major issues that you, as the wife of an alcoholic husband, may face is awkward situations in public or family gatherings. You may come across situations where things go beyond your control, and you might end up in an embarrassing situation. Alcoholism is a condition that occurs when someone becomes dependent on alcohol to the Drug rehabilitation point where it controls their life.

Living With An Alcoholic Husband Effects, Tips, & When To Leave

If your partner or spouse is an alcoholic and runs into legal issues, you may also reap the consequences of those actions. These consequences may be both emotional and/or financial as you help your partner get through whatever issues with the law they may have committed. Friends, roommates, or other family members who live with someone with AUD may also find themselves blaming the person or trying to control their drinking behaviors. When it comes to how to live with an alcoholic husband, try not to make any major decisions without getting input from your spouse or partner first.

Impacts of Living with an Alcoholic Spouse

Whether you’re living with a functioning alcoholic, or someone with an alcohol dependency, life can be physically and emotionally draining. Learning how to deal with an alcoholic spouse as well as looking after yourself can be stressful and it’s likely you’ll need support to help you manage. We’ve put together some recommendations on how to look after yourself and the other people living in your household. Our state-specific resource guides offer a comprehensive overview of drug and alcohol addiction treatment options available in your area. Addictions take time to break and with alcoholism unless the root cause that leads to it is taken care of, there’s not much that can be done.

• Problematic drinking can have a significant financial impact on the household.
• Although both parties were guilty of using substances, it deteriorated their marriage to a point of no return – resulting in anger, violence, and defamation.
• While you may be hurt or frustrated by your spouse’s addiction and actions, it is crucial that you remain neutral or even positive when approaching your partner about their drinking.
• Eventually, your spouse may come to you and express an interest in recovery.
• If you are living with an alcoholic spouse, there are steps you can take to encourage their sobriety and support their relapse prevention efforts.

So, the advice here is to keep away from the situation and let things happen. And when they do, take them to the professional living with an alcoholic spouse instead of trying to make things right on your own. The only challenge that arises at that moment is neither your husband needs your help at that very moment nor you’re a professional counselor. The worst you could do is take the place of a professional and try to look for solutions to ‘cure’ it.

Treatment & Support

Inpatient rehabilitation programs provide 24/7 support in a structured environment away from daily triggers. This level of care is typically recommended for those with severe addiction issues or those who have relapsed multiple times. Conclude the conversation by reiterating your willingness to support them in seeking help.

• One thing that does not change is the effect that an alcoholic spouse can have on the situation.
• They can provide you with support, guidance, and helpful resources to assist you through this difficult time.
• For example, mention a time they missed an important family event or got into legal trouble due to drinking.
• Numerous resources and support systems can help lighten the burden and guide you toward solutions.
• Attending a rehab center and receiving alcohol detox may be a first stage of treatment followed by individual and group therapy practices.

Therapy

There is no “feedback” given, and there is no general discussion, i.e., what we call “cross-talking”. These experiences allowed me to commit psychologically to AA as a program of recovery as a self-identified alcoholic. Since everybody’s situation is unique and several factors contribute to what drives loved ones into alcoholism, there is no universal method to treat all. There are however general guidelines that work well in all cases that can help those in need to cope as they ride it out.

Addictions We Treat

Spouses have to struggle with the severe psychological impact that comes from the effects of living with an alcoholic spouse. This can extend to psychological stress and depression in spouses, with an increased risk of intimate partner violence or aggressive behaviors. It’s common for spouses of individuals with alcohol addiction to inadvertently shoulder the blame for their partner’s behavior or to try to fix problems that stem from the addiction.