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It\u2019s good to talk about how your spouse\u2019s alcoholism is affecting you, and your marriage, but make sure you choose your words carefully. Your instinct is to respond to your spouse with anger when you know he or she has been drinking. If you do have children, make sure they have someone they can confide in, like a counselor or a close family friend. Furthermore, you shouldn\u2019t put your lives on hold, just because your spouse is occupied only with their addiction. People struggling with AUD will have intense mental and physical cravings when they aren\u2019t drinking, as well as undergoing a range of withdrawal symptoms when they do stop. In addition, as their AUD worsens, their tolerance to alcohol will increase, meaning that they need more and more alcohol to achieve a similar effect.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
When the money is spent, the financial burden can impact the entire household. You may notice your spouse becoming increasingly irritated or anxious. If your partner has been abusive in any way, Nelson advises talking to a trusted loved one, trained therapist, or both. It may be worth getting support from a therapist as you attempt to navigate a marriage or committed partnership with someone living with AUD.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
In fact, alcohol and substance abuse is the third most often cited reason for divorce according to women. The drinking of a partner who has an alcohol use disorder can cause many of these challenges and potentially others. As a result, a man or woman in this situation may rely on coping strategies that are not healthy or productive, and that cause further harm. For instance, withdrawing and hiding is a strategy of avoidance that may provide some temporary relief. Over time, though, the spouse who withdraws simply waits while the problem gets worse, and in the meantime becomes more distant from friends and extended family. Living with an alcoholic spouse is a difficult and emotionally charged situation.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
If you live with someone with alcohol use disorder, you know addiction doesn\u2019t just impact one person. 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. A support group such as Al-Anon Family Groups may also be a helpful source of support when you have someone in your life with a drinking problem. The group can give you a place to get social support and encouragement from others going through a similar situation. Many family members of someone struggling with alcohol dependency try everything they can think of to get their loved one to stop drinking.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Your partner\u2019s drinking doesn\u2019t mean they want to hurt you or don\u2019t care about you. According to a small 2019 study, one of the most common triggers for people with AUD is simply being at a party or bar. That\u2019s why Flagg advises planning and encouraging other social activities that don\u2019t include alcohol. Making excuses or avoiding the problem doesn\u2019t help and in fact will lead to more harm for everyone involved.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n