This can be helpful for families who want a more in depth understanding of addiction. The enabler is the person who tries to cover up the alcoholic’s behaviors and take responsibility for them. They usually will make how to live with an alcoholic excuses for the person with a substance use disorder and try to keep everyone happy. By not making the person take responsibility for their actions, they are helping them continue their destructive behaviors.
Quitting an alcohol addiction, especially when it’s more severe, can lead to serious withdrawal symptoms. If you think your partner has an alcohol addiction, you might feel the need to speak with them about it but don’t know where to start. When this happens, all members should address the effects of alcoholism on themselves individually and as a family unit. Sometimes this means attending Al-Anon meetings, while other times, it means removing yourself from the situation.
How to Help an Alcoholic Spouse
Living with an alcoholic partner can be emotionally, financially and physically exhausting. Instead of a partner you can rely on, you have one you have to worry about constantly. 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. There are many options available to help people who care about alcoholics.
Thriving while living with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) – University of Rochester
Thriving while living with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD).
Posted: Mon, 21 Aug 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Even though they think they’re being good parents, high-functioning alcoholics can’t be fully committed to their children’s well-being when alcohol is also a major part of their life. On the outside, high-functioning alcoholics may appear to be great parents. They may show up to their child’s events and seem to have good relationships with their children. But they may choose to drink at home instead of spending time with their children. Or they may drink in front of their children, increasing their risk of becoming an alcoholic when they grow up. Keeping away from the emotional and psychological triggers that feed into the addiction means finding something else to focus on.
Confronting the Alcoholic
What might seem like a reasonable expectation in some circumstances might be totally unreasonable when it comes to someone with an addiction. When your loved one swears to you and to themselves that they will never touch another drop of alcohol, you might believe them. Remember, it’s not your responsibility to “cure” their AUD. You just happen to love someone who is probably going to need professional treatment to get healthy again.
- Never cover up for an alcoholic
This one is a no-brainer. - Plan what you’ll say during the confrontation
In cases where a person is abusing any substance, including alcohol, a confrontation is inevitable.
Living with alcoholism is difficult for loved ones, but it also takes a toll on the addict. Alcoholism is a potentially life-threatening condition and can lead to memory loss, liver fibrosis, fatty liver, cancers, high blood pressure, stroke and even death. A partner who gets drunk and verbally abuses you can have a detrimental impact on your self-worth. Alcoholism isn’t an acceptable excuse for any form of abuse.
How to Manage a Relationship with a High-Functioning Alcoholic
If not done carefully, confrontation can end badly, especially if the person is a functioning alcoholic in denial or someone who has a history of verbal or physical abuse. In general, it may be smart to have other people present when confronting the alcoholic. While this may sound like an awful option, it is the decision that many people with alcoholic spouses choose. Sometimes it becomes difficult to separate the person they married from the person their spouse has become. Many counties and states offer addiction education courses for families to help them better understand addiction, including alcohol use disorder. They are taught by licensed professionals and include topics on understanding addiction, how addiction affects a family and how to get a plan in place.
After he committed to sobriety, her husband became more physically and emotionally present during family crises. Recovering from an alcohol use disorder is a lifelong process. Male alcoholics contribute to a stressful and traumatic home environment, plaguing their wives with anxiety disorders, depression, neuroticism and low self-confidence. You also shouldn’t be satisfied with a status quo — some would argue that this is a form of enablement as well. Ultimately, you want to be working toward getting your partner to accept professional help for their alcoholism. The first step is to confirm that your partner is, in fact, an alcoholic.