Having an alcoholic spouse can be a very delicate and difficult situation. No one wants to think that their spouse has an addiction problem. It’s often difficult to see the signs of an alcoholic spouse because of the intense feelings involved in a relationship. Additionally, the signs of addiction for a spouse aren’t the same as another person because the addicted spouse may seem fine to their partner. That’s why it is even more important to not only recognize the signs but to know what to do if your spouse has become an alcoholic
At Ocean Coast Recovery we know the struggles of being addicted or living with someone with an addiction and that’s why we believe that it is important to give spouse’s the tools they need to get their partner help with alcohol addiction. In this post, we will look at why alcohol is addictive, how to tell the signs of an alcoholic spouse, and what to do to get them the help they need.
Is Alcohol Addictive?
Many people don’t realize that alcohol is one of the most addictive substances in existence. In fact, according to the NIH (National Institute on Health), roughly 50% of adults report drinking regularly, with episodes of chronic or excessive drinking happening at a higher rate in men.
Because of its wide use, many people become addicted to alcohol every day and without proper treatment, it can be difficult to stop drinking. Alcohol is considered a depressant because of the way it interacts with the body and over prolonged use, it can cause dependency and ultimately addiction.
Addiction typically occurs when a person has reached excessive and continual use of alcohol on a regular basis or even daily. It also takes larger and large amounts of alcohol to achieve the desired effect, which can lead to heavy or even binge drinking.
The Signs of an Alcoholic Spouse To Be Aware of
The signs of an alcoholic spouse are not entirely the same as a traditional alcoholic behavior, but there are still some common physical and behavioral signs to look out for.
The common physical signs include the inability to focus, slurred speech, drowsiness, blackouts to the point of not being able to remember what happened, tremors, and even seizures. The behavioral signs typically include feelings of anxiety and depression, lying to their spouse to conceal their alcoholism, pulling away from family, friends, and work, and a constant need to drink in order to cope with day-to-day problems.
They may even resort to illegal behavior like driving while intoxicated and forego responsibilities in favor of drinking. Most of the time an alcoholic will continue to drink despite the effect it has on their life.
How To Get Your Alcoholic Spouse Help Today
The first step to getting your alcoholic spouse help is to get them to accept that they have a problem and need help. There is no easy way to break the cycle of addiction, but with enough love and support, your spouse can enter treatment and get on the path to sobriety. Remember, when approaching a person with addiction it is important to be warm and kind and remind them of the reasons to quit drinking.
Once they agree to seek treatment, it’s time to call Ocean Coast Recovery, where we give clients an individualized treatment plan that meets their specific needs. Our luxurious inpatient rehab facility is designed to be a place where clients can relax and get away from the stresses of daily life while they focus on recovery.
Once treatment ends, our clients can take advantage of aftercare services to continue recovery while returning to their day-to-day life. If you have a spouse that is an alcoholic, contact Ocean Coast Recovery right away.
