Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and motivational enhancement therapy are other behavioral treatments that may help individuals dealing with alcoholism. https://www.sellvictoriahomes.com/dopamine-addiction-type-test-reveals-your-7-toxic/ Have options available for how to change drinking habits or stop drinking. If the problem is severe, this may mean having a list of treatment options. Having a spouse, especially when there are children, leave to attend treatment in a residential facility certainly poses additional problems.
Consider Therapy for Yourself
If your spouse is functionally alcoholic, you’ll find yourself dealing with up and down moments mentally, emotionally, financially, and socially. The issues you’ll face may be immediate (stress, domestic violence) or long-term (impact on your children’s health). So, it is important to assess the problem to know whether you should seek help for them or remove yourself from the situation. Alcoholism is a complex disease that can have a devastating impact on individuals and their relationships.

Signs & Symptoms of an Alcoholic
- Living with an alcoholic husband can feel isolating, but you’re not alone.
- Children and adolescents of alcoholic parents can often harbor feelings of guilt and anger when living with an alcoholic parent.
- The Recovery Village at Palmer Lake offers comprehensive addiction treatment for drug and alcohol addictions and co-occurring mental health conditions.
- When dealing with an alcoholic spouse, remember to take care of yourself and prioritize your emotional well-being.
Their representatives will discuss whether their facility may be an option for you. These calls are offered at no cost to you and with no obligation to enter into treatment. We’re here 24/7 to help guide you or your loved on through rehab and recovery. You may also consider contacting a professional interventionist if you’re considering staging an intervention. It is essential to remember that seeking help for your spouse should not come at the cost of your own well-being.
Treatment & Support
It is further recommended that such investigation can be taken up in a qualitative manner to subjectively understand and acknowledge the pain of being a wife of an alcoholic. Moreover, longitudinal assessment of coping styles as well their outcomes can be employed. Such evidence can be further utilized in developing training and resilience-building programs for the wives of alcoholic clients. The present study findings are consistent to the available literature on same; however, the results highlight the role of culture and changing gender implications on their coping styles. The study, however, did not explore the subjective distress and pain the partners of alcoholic clients go through their lives as pure descriptive and cross-sectional assessment were done. The study also did not look into the association between demographic variables and coping styles used.
Resources and Support for Spouses of Alcoholics
If you think you may be codependent on your addicted spouse, know that you are not assisting the recovery process. On the contrary, it causes the addict to deny the problem and will also hinder the recovery process. Recognizing and addressing codependency is a crucial aspect of understanding how to deal with a husband’s addiction. Focus on your own mental and emotional health, and consider couples therapy if both parties are open to it. Children living with an alcoholic parent may feel confused, scared, or responsible for the drinking.
Understanding when professional intervention becomes necessary – and how to protect your mental health – isn’t selfish; it’s essential for survival. Living with an alcoholic partner will likely be a tough time for you too, and even the strongest of relationships tend to suffer during alcohol rehab. It is important not to neglect your relationship during this time, especially if children are involved and may be worth seeking support in the form of relationship counselling. Becoming overly invested in your alcoholic partner’s wellbeing may be defined as codependency and this can be detrimental to your Substance abuse own mental health. Al-Anon stresses this point and as previously mentioned, will provide you with tools to cope to look out for your own health and wellbeing too.


If you have experienced domestic abuse from an alcoholic spouse or think you’re at risk, it’s necessary to take immediate steps to protect yourself or leave the environment. Watching someone you care about deteriorate into alcoholism can bring on a flood of emotions that you may not easily handle. Partners of alcoholics may start with denial, pretending the situation is not as serious as it seems. Soon, living with an alcoholic spouse they accept the situation and feelings of disappointment, mistrust, and guilt begin to overwhelm them. Alcoholism is a disorder of the brain that goes beyond the affected individual to their loved ones and friends.
- They are more likely to develop unhealthy relationship qualities such as codependency and trauma bonding.
- It’s common for such individuals to express regret and make heartfelt promises during moments of clarity, but often, these commitments fade over time.
- Partners of alcoholics may start with denial, pretending the situation is not as serious as it seems.
- The worst expectation you as a wife to an alcoholic husband may have is to expect a change overnight.
Living with an Alcoholic Husband: A true account of living with and without …
Ensure you have access to essential documents, finances, and personal items before leaving. If children are involved, consult a family therapist to develop a plan that minimizes their emotional upheaval. This isn’t about abandoning the relationship but about resetting the dynamic in a way that prioritizes safety and accountability. Encourage your spouse in any way possible to seek professional help for their alcoholism.
