22 Nov Living with a Functioning Alcoholic Husband What Are My Options?

It is essential to remember that seeking help for your spouse should not come at the cost of your own well-being. To protect yourself from the alcoholic, it is suggested that setting boundaries and holding them accountable for their actions is often helpful for both you and them. Alcoholism often functional alcoholic husband feels like a losing battle for those on the receiving end, and it tends to play out very slowly. The slow decline not only makes it harder to see, but it also allows those affected to make more justifications for themselves and the alcohol user. If things went from good to unmanageable in one fell swoop, it would be far more obvious, and action would most likely be taken quickly.

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)

If you see the warning signs of alcoholism, and if communication hasn’t broken down entirely, you may want to take an honest, compassionate and direct approach with your spouse. When he is sober, tell him that you are concerned about his drinking and the impact it is having on your family, and encourage him to seek treatment at a qualified rehab facility. It may be a source of enlightenment to him just how far-reaching his alcohol abuse has become. However, if your husband is in denial about the extent what is alcoholism of his drinking, then he may not be ready or willing to consider seeking treatment. You may begin to feel isolated and alone, and that can be detrimental to your overall health.

Stay Focused on the Main Point

• One of the first steps is determining where your lines of communication stand with your spouse.
• Some women may follow the lead of the alcoholic husband in denial, and also pretend that nothing is wrong.
• Regarding physical symptoms, slurred speech and bloodshot or watery eyes are telltale signs of alcohol abuse.
• Living with an alcoholic spouse can be fraught with emotional distress, financial strain and a deep sense of uncertainty.
• Six or more ‘yes’ answers would indicate a severe alcohol use disorder.
• Revise legal considerations if you decide that divorce is the most suitable choice.

If you have tried supporting your spouse by setting boundaries, modeling healthy habits, and encouraging their recovery to no avail, a divorce might be the best solution for your family. Revise legal considerations if you decide that divorce is the most suitable choice. After this stage, alcoholics usually slip deeper into alcoholism unless they seek professional help. When trying to help a functioning alcoholic, it is essential to approach them with compassion and patience. Addiction treatment can be a long and challenging road with many ups and downs. Those with moderate to severe alcohol use disorders often try to fix, manage, and control everybody and everything.

Treatment for Functional Alcoholism

There are medications approved in the United States to help people quit or reduce their heavy drinking and prevent relapse. A health professional prescribes them and may be used alone or in combination with other treatments. Behavioral treatments aim to change drinking behavior through counseling. Health experts lead them, and studies support that they are beneficial.

Experience Care with Elite Home Detox

It also might mean admitting that they don’t have it all together, and their exterior (and interior) world is crumbling. “In some families, drinking too much is seen as comical, not a big deal, or a must during celebrations,” she adds. Consequently, many people may not realize their drinking has become a genuine problem. “For starters, the media, our workplaces, and many social circles normalize drinking to excess,” says Ruby Mehta, a clinical social worker and director of clinical operations at Tempest.

• In addition to that, residents can utilize counseling and receive resources to better prepare them for long-term freedom.
• This situation might resonate with you if you’re living with someone who, despite maintaining professional and social appearances, struggles with alcohol behind closed doors.
• An addiction interventionist can help a family identify things they are doing that may be holding the alcoholic in a precontemplation state.
• If the person you are living with is aggressive or abusive, whether it be verbally or physically, please do not stay in this situation or blame yourself.

Enhance your own life.

The effects of alcohol can impact a person as well as their loved ones in various ways. It’s crucial to note that living with an alcoholic requires certain strategies to manage the situation effectively. Consider reaching out to an addiction specialist for help and guidance.

Don’t Enable Him

Only they can choose to change through accessing the correct professional treatment. Means to live in constant fear, anxiety, disappointment, anger and insecurity. Being in a relationship with an alcoholic may cause frustration and leave you feeling powerless, as time and time again, their heartfelt promises to you are broken. There is no doubt that living with a functioning alcoholic, of any description makes for a very toxic environment. Fuelling alcoholism requires secrecy, lies, manipulation and dysfunctional and damaging behaviours. This naturally impacts on those that are closest to a person suffering from alcoholism.

Alcohol Treatment with Dr. Wandler

If your spouse is showing signs of substance abuse, reach out to our caring admissions — Matt, Brian, or Ashlee — team today. We publish material that is researched, cited, edited and reviewed by licensed medical professionals. The information we provide is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. It should not be used in place of the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare providers.

Professional interventions allow family members to communicate constructively in a safe environment. There may be many reasons why someone is hesitant to seek help — from lack of awareness to stigma and shame. “For example, you may notice your spouse drinking more beers at dinner, sleeping less and less, and increasingly on edge well before they start missing workdays,” Grawert adds. There are empathetic, actionable ways to support someone with an alcohol use disorder (AUD) who may be stuck in denial. When a loved one has a drinking problem, it’s hard to know how to help, especially if they are in denial.

Living with an alcoholic husband requires a lot of patience, courage, and the support of people around. After all, it’s not easy to tell someone, “I think my husband is a functioning alcoholic.” A spouse who is married to a high-functioning alcoholic often feels alone and isolated. “I’m stressed, so I need a drink,” or, “I’ve had such a hard day I need a drink,” are phrases you may hear often from a partner struggling with alcoholism.