Living With an Alcoholic Spouse: Coping Strategies

They likely don’t even realize they’re behaving this way, and they may not remember once the effects of the alcohol wear off. Someone with AUD may also become angry or irritable when they don’t have access to alcohol because they’re experiencing withdrawal. There may be very little you can do to help someone with AUD until they are ready to get help, but you can stop letting someone’s drinking problem dominate your thoughts and your life. It’s OK to make choices that are good for your own physical and mental health.

How to Deal with an Alcoholic Spouse

Codependency can continue to affect marriages even after your partner has become sober. But the stress that comes along with constant arguing can become a trigger for the person living with SUD to use drugs or alcohol. By setting the right Dealing and Living with an Alcoholic Spouse expectations and considering treatment for yourself, you can overcome addiction together with your partner. It is also a good idea to spend more time with your loved ones as this will reduce your stress levels and improve your mood.

Living With an Alcoholic: How to Deal With an Alcoholic Spouse

It may be helpful to seek support from a therapist or support group before making any major decisions. Self-care includes setting healthy boundaries with your partner around behaviors you will and won’t accept, says Flagg. When discussing treatment options, aim for a time when they’re sober, alert, and at ease. You might introduce this topic while relaxing on Saturday afternoon, for example, not right before bed after a long and stressful workday. While it’s natural to feel upset as you experience the consequences of your partner’s drinking, Nelson encourages cultivating a sense of compassion for any pain they may be dealing with.

Don’t Take It Personally

With regard to the problems of physical violence, very few wives reported various forms of violence by their alcoholic partner. It was only 3% wives who reported that their alcoholic partner often uses weapon against them and physically harm their children. After all, if you’re living with an addict, their problems affect you as well. People with addictions often get into legal, financial and personal trouble. Loved ones of addicts may find themselves continually picking up the pieces. You’re more at risk for mental health disorders, substance abuse, PTSD, anger issues and other behavioral health problems.

• Here’s how we can face our triggers with less reactivity so that we can get on with our lives.
• But, in the long run, the denial mode is not going to work at all.
• Learn about the warning signs, how to spot a problem, and what you can do if someone…

It’s also important to know when a situation could escalate and/or threaten your safety and well-being or that of another family member. By becoming aware of our drinking patterns and the effects of each drink, we can begin to make more mindful choices. It will guide you in tracking your drinking habits, uncovering the underlying reasons for your consumption, and starting to create positive shifts. One day, curiosity turns into the first sip—the harmless first taste. According to Conroy, it may be easy to get caught in denial with AUD if you subconsciously feel something is wrong with you at your core.

This means you can’t take care of them when they’re hungover, make excuses for their behavior, or bail them out of jail if they are arrested for drunk driving. A spouse of an addict can choose to do nothing; it’s a common option but often a bad idea. You can receive treatment in an individual, family, group, or couples setting. She’s also currently working on her dissertation, which explores intersections of disability studies and literacy studies.

Tips for living with a person recovering from alcohol addiction

Establishing Boundaries with Your Spouse