The top 3 things you can do if you suspect your spouse is an alcoholic

It is never easy to deal with alcoholism. It is not just the person who has it who suffers because of the situation, but also the people around them. Many marriages and families have dissolved because of alcoholism.

If you suspect your spouse has a drinking problem, then you do need to do your best to address it. Do your research and find out what signs you need to look for in order to confirm your theory. Some signs to watch out for include them acting differently when drunk, becoming physically or verbally abusive, and loss of coordination and the like.

The signs may be different depending on the person so you would need to observe your spouse. If you have confirmed it, here are some things you can do.

1. Be honest about how the drinking affects you

you will need to speak to your spouse and inform them of the problem. Now, this may be very challenging, as there are many who would probably deny having a drinking problem in the first place. You need to remember not to be critical. Do not use words where it seems like you are passing judgment on them. Have a conversation with them where you tell them just how the drinking affects you and your relationship. Choose a time when they are not inebriated and have a listening ear. Remember that you may have to talk to them a few more times before they can actually admit to having a problem.

2. Look for outside help 

if your spouse has realized their condition, it’s time to get some outside help. There are several treatment options you have to help your spouse recover. There are groups they can join like Alcoholics Anonymous who have 12 step programs that provide support for those who are actively drinking and those are in recovery. You can also go to treatment centers where they can stay at and focus on their healing. Here you get access to professionals whose goal is to help you heal your body, mind, and soul. They even have couples therapy and art and music therapy where they can have an outlet for their problems.

3. Be supportive of their journey to recovery

it will not be easy to recover from any type of addiction and you need to partner with your spouse so that they will have an easier time recovering. If need be, you might want to avoid places like bars and the like, and you may also want to avoid drinking too. Instead, find other activities that you may do as a couple. Also, always provide a listening ear if they want to talk about their struggles in their road to sobriety and see if you can even attend some of their therapy sessions in order to better understand what they are going through and to find out how else you can help them.

 

Exit mobile version