Divorcing an Alcoholic or Substance Abusing Spouse

Jordan continued her studies and earned a master’s in clinical and mental health counseling. Between post-graduate work and additional training courses, she honed her skills in treating first responders and military personnel from a trauma-informed perspective. In other words, in some individuals, casual use may morph into dependency for many different reasons. Some individuals are predisposed to alcohol problems due to genetics and socioeconomic factors. Others are battling underlying mental health issues and are choosing alcohol to self-medicate.

What is living with an alcoholic like?

In an old song recorded in the 50s, Frank Sinatra sings, “Love and marriage, love and marriage. This I tell you, brother, you can’t have one without the other.” True indeed. But a less lyrical hypothesis is also true; divorce rates after sobriety alcohol and divorce go together like a horse and carriage. Read on to learn the facts behind divorce and alcohol, according to mental health professionals at Sanford West Behavioral Health Campus.

How Trauma Affects the Brain

If your partner is recovering from addiction, the process can come with challenges, and it may take time to cope with those challenges, but you’re not alone. Financial advisors can provide specific guidelines on handling marital assets, managing debt accrued from addiction, and planning for a more stable financial future. Understanding the financial impact of addiction is crucial for families seeking stability amid the turmoil. Support groups such as Al-Anon offer a platform for spouses to share their experiences and derive strength from others facing similar challenges. For instance, countless stories shared at these meetings have shown how communal support can provide critical emotional stability.

• But even if you do work on the relationship during substance abuse treatment, divorce is still a possibility.
• Moreover, family education programs help children understand addiction better, reducing feelings of confusion and guilt.
• Moreover, domestic violence is the cause of death of about 1,000 women every year in the United States.
• In an old song recorded in the 50s, Frank Sinatra sings, “Love and marriage, love and marriage.

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• When examining addiction and divorce statistics, it is easy to see how one spouse’s addiction can strain a marriage.
• Excessive drug use within a marriage may lead to maladaptive and hurtful behaviors, potentially creating a dysfunctional marriage and unstable home environment.
• Recovery from substance use disorder can cause many changes in your marriage — not all of them positive.
• Verbal and physical conflicts arise, often turning marriages into battlefields.

She’s passionate about working with clients to work through trauma and improve mental stability. In her personal life, Karlie likes reading sci-fi and fantasy and going to Marvel movies. She enjoys playing board games and having Alcoholics Anonymous home karaoke nights with her friends. Karlie says the best advice ever received is to not fall in love with potential.

• If you are married to someone struggling with addiction, you may feel immense pressure to take care of your spouse or “fix” the problem.
• In comparison to couples where both individuals were light drinkers, relationships where both partners were heavy drinkers had a notably higher rate of divorce.
• According to SAMHSA, about 1 in 35 children (2.1 million) lived in households with at least one parent who had a past year of illicit drug use disorder.
• The alcoholic may not realize they have a problem or may be reluctant to admit it exists.

Can I Drink and Still Have a Happy Marriage?

Couples often don’t survive relationship problems caused by the stresses of alcohol dependency. The methods used within treatment may vary depending on the state of a person’s marriage. If a person is pursuing treatment not only for themselves but as a way to heal their marriage, the program should be designed with this in mind. Rehabilitation programs that promote individualized methods may be helpful for those struggling with both alcohol and drug addiction. Whatever choice is made, to stay together or get divorced, the transition isn’t necessarily easy.

Addiction – a Strain on a Marriage

The damage inflicted on the marriage from a person’s addiction will often take time and therapy to heal. If a partner undergoes treatment and can live https://ecosoberhouse.com/ a sober life, those wounds will not simply disappear. Substance abuse frequently damages trust in a marriage, as the addicted partner may attempt to lie, distract, or hide that they’ve been using or drinking.