Our staff includes therapists and others who can help your addicted spouse understand the disease of addiction and cope with cravings that can lead to relapse. Divorce or separation among couples struggling with addiction issues may be common, but it’s not inevitable. If your partner suffers from an addiction, there are specific do’s and don’ts experts recommend you put into place to help your addicted spouse. Over time, the caregiver can habituate to this rescuer and provider role and even develop an identity based on it. Further, the caregiver grows accustomed to a relationship with the person misusing alcohol that is primarily based on caregiving.
- We accept insurance and can arrange for transportation to and from treatment.
- ” questionnaire is intended for educational purposes and should not be used to self-diagnose.
- Instead, it may be more helpful to emphasize how much you care about them and their wellbeing as an impetus for getting them into treatment.
- No matter how dire your current situation may seem, know that recovery from an AUD is possible.
While you’re learning about addiction, detaching with love, and setting and enforcing boundaries, you can stage a drug intervention for your spouse, as well. An intervention is a carefully planned process designed to help your spouse realize they have a problem using and abusing drugs. You can plan a one-on-one intervention by yourself, but the most effective interventions are usually led by a trained intervention specialist.
Signs and Symptoms of Alcohol Use Disorder
Living with a spouse struggling with drug addiction is a profound and challenging experience. According to the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, the impact of substance abuse on marriage often leads to an increase in conflict, financial strain, and emotional distance. Let them know that you understand that people make mistakes, and tell them that you know how difficult alcohol and drug addiction can be. And let them know you have faith in them and that they can absolutely be successful in addiction recovery. For most couples with a spouse in addiction recovery, life doesn’t magically fall into place without a lot of hard work by both partners.
- What a recovering spouse needs more than anything is the support of their partner.
- Boundaries are clearly outlined expectations or rules set forth so that both partners know what behaviors are acceptable.
- Remember, seeking support from others who understand your situation can be incredibly beneficial.
However, you need to do this while supporting your spouse’s recovery. Be sure to tell your spouse at what point you will walk away, and be prepared to do it. Discuss your situation with family members and/or close friends who can be there to help in your time of need, should that time come. Talking to your loved one, who engages in unhealthy or hazardous drinking can be extremely effective and constructive if done tactfully, with compassion, and with the proper tools.
Don’t assume you can handle the addiction problem alone
Choose a moment when your spouse is sober, calm, and capable of having a serious conversation. The location should be private and comfortable, free from distractions and interruptions. Theravive does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Contact us today to begin developing your custom-tailored treatment plan. You can’t be there for your partner if you are also falling apart. So, be an example and tend to your own needs, support system, and self-care.
- A study by researchers at the State University of New York at Buffalo found that men recovering from addiction are more likely to relapse if they feel that their partner is critical of them.
- It is a human need to feel pleasure, and if your spouse can only fulfill that need with drugs, they need professional help to break the hold of addiction.
- Just as treatment is available for alcohol misuse, treatment is also available for codependency and has been proven effective.
- The ratio of clients to staff is kept low so clients can always find someone to talk to or help them over a rough patch.
- It may be only after you’re married that you realize your partner has a substance abuse problem, and then all your attention goes to helping your addicted spouse.
You are the one the police will call when your spouse has been arrested for a DUI. You’ll be responsible for any shared debt incurred during marriage, so if your partner is running the credit cards up to the max to get cash advances to buy drugs, drug addiction recovery you’re responsible for paying it back. One partner undergoes surgery and takes necessary prescription painkillers during recovery, only to find they can’t stop taking them. Someone begins to dabble with marijuana, cocaine or synthetic drugs.
Close Companions: Online Relationship Academy
But educating yourself on addiction can help you focus on the problem that’s hurting your marriage, not the person. In addition to that, reading up on addiction can help you understand your spouse’s struggles and what needs to take place to help them get better. Encouraging treatment is a pivotal step in helping your spouse overcome addiction. It involves understanding the various treatment options and guiding them to choose the one that suits them best. Let’s delve into the nuances of encouraging treatment and supporting your spouse in this critical phase. It involves clear articulation of the boundaries and consistent enforcement to prevent undermining trust in the relationship.
Support groups can be valuable, offering insights from others who have encountered similar situations and providing effective guidance on maintaining healthy boundaries. It is also prudent to have an emergency plan for instances where the boundaries are breached, which might necessitate seeking professional assistance or involving authorities in domestic violence cases. In relationships where one partner is an addict, the codependent individual often assumes the role of a caregiver, sometimes to the point of neglecting their own needs.
Through educational workshops, family therapy sessions and family visits, partners learn new skills right alongside their loved one and practice those skills before their spouse returns home. Drug rehab programs often recommend resources in the local community as well, including therapy and Al-Anon meetings. One of the lowest points in a marriage may come when one spouse is battling an addiction to alcohol or drugs. With the persistent threat of relapse, the emotional roller coaster can continue for many years.
Once it has become clear that you are the spouse of an addicted person, it is normal to feel lost and overwhelmed, as though there is nothing you can do. Fortunately, this is not the case, as there are many ways you can help your spouse, and there are also many resources available to provide help for the spouses of those struggling with addiction. You should carefully plan an intervention before the actual meeting and include only those your spouse trusts and who can remain nonjudgmental. You, and other friends or family who are attending, should write out specific examples of how your spouse’s addictive behavior has hurt them.
If so, you might want to partner with your mentee to find a mentor who fits their needs in this specific area. Alcohol and drugs can impair judgment, arouse feelings of anger and resentment, and create an atmosphere that leads to conflict at home. Even drinking at home does not provide a shield against spending when inhibitions are low. The internet opens up an entire world of shopping possibilities. The “beer goggles” effect can make an item seem more attractive and the purchase price more inviting, and it can increase the likelihood of an unnecessary purchase. No matter how dire your current situation may seem, know that recovery from an AUD is possible.
As your partner progresses, you can offer support by keeping clear boundaries. Tell them that as much as you want to see them get better, it’s vital for you to be your best. Try to focus on yourself while keeping their unique needs in mind. There isn’t a straightforward way to handle this issue, but there are many ways to offer support and encouragement. Most importantly, you must realize that you can’t change your partner. Your significant other will only take their alcohol addiction seriously when they’re ready to change.