In reality, an alcoholic spouse will likely not get better on their own, so doing nothing is not a wise option. Friends, roommates, or other family members who live with someone with AUD may also find themselves blaming drinking out of boredom the person or trying to control their drinking behaviors. Many people living with alcoholics participate in individual therapy.
Encourage them to get support
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. Often, in trying to “help,” well-meaning loved ones will actually do something that enables someone dependent on alcohol to continue along their destructive paths.
After recovery, some people with AUD may need support from friends and family. You can help by offering unconditional support, including abstaining from drinking yourself. Children who grow up with a parent with AUD is mary jane a drug are more likely to misuse alcohol themselves later in life.
Treatment & Support
For many, this means there is a point at which they must walk away from someone with an alcohol problem, no matter how painful it is for everyone. Working with a therapist who understands alcoholism and the toll it takes on families and who knows how to help those who are codependent is very helpful to people living with alcoholics. It also makes it challenging to feel happiness in future relationships. There are too many broken promises and too much distrust in a relationship with someone with addiction to feel comfortable, safe, and respected. But for it to improve, the addicted person must be willing to get help. This page offers practical advice to help you navigate the complex challenges of living with an alcoholic.
About 10.5% of young people under 18 live with at least one parent with AUD, according to research. Often when someone has AUD, they can start to let a lot of chores and other responsibilities around the house slip. It can seem natural for a spouse or child to take on more than their share to keep everything afloat. Working with an expert in AUD and addiction makes these decisions easier.
- If you live with someone with alcohol use disorder, you know addiction doesn’t just impact one person.
- Having an alcoholic spouse is not a situation you will be forced to go through alone.
- Reach out today at and talk to one of our compassionate and knowledgeable admissions navigators.
Dealing with the problem openly and honestly is the best approach. For those who love someone living with an addiction, it is very difficult to sit back and let the crisis play out to its fullest extent. If your loved one has become addicted to alcohol, however, their brain chemistry may have changed to the point that they are completely surprised by some of the choices they make. When someone with alcohol dependency promises they will never drink again but a short time later are back to drinking as much as always, it is easy to take the broken promises and lies personally. You may think, “If they drinking and shrooms really love me, they wouldn’t lie to me.” ” self-assessment below if you think you or someone you love might be struggling with an alcohol use disorder (AUD).
Living with a Partner with an Alcohol Addiction
It may be worth getting support from a therapist as you attempt to navigate a marriage or committed partnership with someone living with AUD. Beau Nelson, LCSW, Chief Clinical Officer at FHE Health, notes that Al-Anon meetings can often help you reframe your role in your partner’s recovery journey. Erika Dalton,LMSW, Creekside Recovery Residences and Buckhead Behavioral Health therapist and case manager, adds that AUD can also raise your chances of relationship codependency. This dysfunctional dynamic happens when one partner begins to sacrifice their needs to better prioritize what they think their partner needs.
They’re also at a higher risk for other challenges, including difficulties forming close relationships, lying, and self-judgment. When you live with a spouse who has an alcohol use disorder, taking care of yourself is important. Having an alcoholic spouse is not a situation you will be forced to go through alone. Some people have gone through and are going through the same situation, and they can offer insight, advice and understanding.
Called “role reversal,” this is when a child feels responsible for their parent. This reversal of responsibilities can lead the child to develop a pattern of codependency in future relationships. Sometimes, this high level of support, like dropping everything to help, results in an unhealthy relationship pattern called codependency. All of these common experiences might leave you feeling a greater sense of instability for yourself and your children. It’s also important to keep in mind that you cannot control what your loved one does or manage their alcohol consumption. BetterHelp can connect you to an addiction and mental health counselor.