Living with an alcoholic: The damage alcohol addiction does to families

The effects of living with an alcoholic are both short-term and have lasting consequences. Spouses of alcoholics are more likely to be victims of domestic violence, may suffer emotional harm, may neglect their own health, and may become socially withdrawn. To avoid or minimize these effects it is important to directly address the issue of drinking, to try to help the alcoholic, and to leave the relationship if necessary.

Simply fill out our contact form and we’ll be in touch with you as soon as possible. Listen actively to their responses and show empathy while avoiding judgment or blame. Express specific observations about behaviors that concern you, providing concrete examples like missed family events or changes in mood after drinking episodes. Living in close proximity to someone else’s destructive drinking can be difficult and damaging. Your instincts may also lead you astray and you can expose yourself to more harm and worsen the situation when you’re simply trying to help.

Spent a lot of time drinking? Or being sick orgetting over other aftereffects?

• They can also occur without any apparent trigger, which can make the condition even more distressing.
• These professionals are trained to diagnose and treat mental health issues, including PTSD.
• Codependency and difficulty establishing boundaries may develop, making it harder for individuals to reclaim their independence or focus on personal growth.
• Your doctors will help you take care of yourself and focus on your well-being and self-care.
• Your instincts may also lead you astray and you can expose yourself to more harm and worsen the situation when you’re simply trying to help.

These digital support networks offer 24/7 access to understanding individuals who face similar challenges in their marriages. Dealing with an alcoholic spouse often results in social isolation as you withdraw from friends and family to hide the reality of your situation. The unpredictability of your partner’s behavior makes it difficult to maintain normal social relationships or engage in activities you once enjoyed. Alcohol can contribute to long-term stress, as it often inhibits the proper sleep cycle and can exacerbate issues such as depression or anxiety. Thus, it will be leaned on cyclically as stress increases in the life of a functional alcoholic.

Physical Effects of Living with an Alcoholic Partner

Building a strong support network of friends, family, or support groups for both of you can provide essential emotional backing. Remember, it’s crucial to take care of yourself first to be able to effectively support your spouse’s recovery journey. Living with an alcoholic spouse can be an overwhelming and deeply challenging experience. Alcoholism can also lead to unpredictable and dangerous behaviour, including driving under the influence, getting into physical fights, or acting out violently. If you are experiencing these issues and your spouse continues to abuse alcohol and does not seek help, it may be time to consider leaving the relationship.

By participating in these support groups, spouses can gain valuable insights into their own well-being while learning how to navigate the complexities of supporting an alcoholic partner. Assure Recovery Center prides itself on being motivated to provide compassionate and individualized care in a way that’s purposefully collaborative with every aspect of our program. Whether you are new to professional treatment or are familiar with the process, reaching out is the first step toward lasting recovery. Relationship and social issues deteriorate as mistrust, lies, and emotional distance replace intimacy and connection. You withdraw socially and neglect your personal health while focusing entirely on managing your spouse’s addiction.

• It is very common for one or more in the household to become an enabler to the functioning alcohol abuser, whether or not they are cognizant of it.
• Besides for physical and emotional well-being, financial security may also become an issue if the alcoholic spouse misses workdays or gets fired as a result of poor performance at work.
• Therapy can give you a safe space to express concerns and work toward practical solutions.
• Rather, they themselves can be seen as ill—co-dependent with the alcoholic, “addicted to them,” as Al-Anon puts it.
• Maintain consistent self-care practices that reduce stress accumulation from daily relationship challenges.

Modern alcoholism

Navigating life with addiction is tough, but you don’t need to do it on your own. Our caring and dedicated staff has helped over 40,000 individuals break free of their addictions, and they can help you too. Contact us today to join our vibrant recovery community and to begin treatment in a safe and supportive environment.

The Traumatic Impact of Alcoholism in a Marriage

Family First Interventionists perform a pre-intervention assessment to help determine the level of care for the alcoholic. This process can help the family see the degree of severity their loved one is at. Some questions we ask may not seem relevant, and they are intended to help determine how much help your loved one may require. Due to how acceptable social and recreational drinking is, excessive alcohol use may be difficult to identify.

Drinking may be a coping mechanism for your spouse due to a trauma they experienced in their youth. AUDs can run in families, so it’s possible your spouse had an alcoholic parent which may be discussed in therapy. We know that supporting someone with an alcohol problem can be isolating, so we also offer support for spouses and loved ones of alcoholics. Children who live with an alcoholic parent often face unique emotional and behavioral struggles.

Physical signs manifest through bloodshot eyes, trembling hands, frequent hangovers, and deteriorating personal hygiene. Social isolation increases as they avoid family gatherings, work events, or activities where their drinking might be scrutinized. Social isolation can be a serious consequence of living with an alcoholic spouse. While every situation is different, the following are signs that distancing yourself from the alcoholic might be the right decision. Alcoholism often feels like a losing battle for those on the receiving end, and it tends to play out very slowly.

Blaming others allows the alcoholic to be a victim, and their focus is to make everyone else see what they did wrong and not themselves. This delusional thinking on the alcoholic’s part can prevent them from seeing the need to seek help for themselves. The more they think everyone else is the problem, the less of a problem they have or need to address. A family addiction interventionist can help in these situations by offering both a consultation that involves family, friends, and roommates. If parents and family members assist along with the roommates, this can provide a wider range of awareness to the alcoholic. The alcoholic is more likely to see that nonfamily members are affected, too, as a result of the alcohol abuse.

How does alcoholism in one partner impact the dynamics of a marital relationship?

When you read through the questions of these assessment instruments, you will see how interested they are in determining behavior as well as the effects of consumption. If their behaviors are leaning towards a problem, then it the effects of living with an alcoholic spouse is most likely these behaviors are affecting you and the family’s quality of life. Alcohol use disorders, binge drinking, problematic drinking, and alcoholism can be devastating to families and relationships if allowed to continue. Ultimately, no matter who is in your life with a drinking problem, their struggles with alcohol can be exacerbated if they do not receive timely intervention. Alcoholism can also lead to emotional abuse, with your spouse bullying, criticising, or blaming you for their behaviour.

The Importance of Supporting an Alcoholic Spouse

Alcoholism can lead to dangerous behaviours such as driving under the influence, getting into physical fights, or acting out violently. If you have given your spouse the opportunity to enter treatment but they have refused or denied the problem, it may be time to consider leaving. Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a medical condition characterised by an impaired ability to stop or control alcohol use despite adverse social, occupational, or health consequences.

You cannot force recovery, but you can support your spouse’s journey toward sobriety through strategic approaches. Primary care doctors can assess drinking patterns and recommend treatment options, including medication when appropriate. Discuss your concerns calmly when your loved one is sober, using specific examples of how their drinking affects you and the family. Individual therapy helps you process the stress and trauma of living with a functional alcoholic.