8 Tips for Talking With Your Partner About Their Alcohol Use

Orford J, Gulhric S, Nlcholls P, Oppcnhcimcr E, Egert S, Hensmnn C. Self reported coping behaviours of wives of Alcoholics and its association with drinking outcome. Kaur D, Ajinkya S. Psychological impact of adult alcoholism on spouses and children. It comprised items including how to overcome alcoholism the age, gender, educational status, occupational status, and other demographic information of wives of alcoholic clients. No single treatment center or program is ideal for everyone. To assess which program is right for your partner, you need to investigate what is available.

• Substance use disorder is a primary, chronic, and progressive disease that sometimes can be fatal.
• A critical way in which people often enable a partner’s drinking, without necessarily meaning to do so, is by avoiding the topic.
• An empirical investigation supported a high prevalence of psychosomatic disorders among the wives of alcoholic clients as compared to that of nonalcoholics.
• Once your husband has agreed to treatment, the real work begins—not only for him but for you as well.
• It was only 3% of them who often gave money to their alcoholic partner, only 13% of them often considered the problem of alcoholism as a part of life that could not be changed.

If you’re asking yourself how to help an alcoholic spouse, you’re likely already exhausted from dealing with the challenges of living with a partner abusing alcohol. It is further recommended that such investigation can be taken up in a qualitative manner to subjectively understand and acknowledge the pain of being a wife of an alcoholic. Moreover, longitudinal assessment of coping styles as well their outcomes can be employed.

How to Talk to Your Husband about His Alcohol Use

You may tell yourself that surely there is something you can do. But the reality is that not even the person dependent on alcohol can control their drinking, try as they may. If your loved one is truly dependent on alcohol, they are going to drink no matter what you do or say. If your husband continues to drink even when he knows it causes you harm, tell him that is drinking is interfering with your relationship.

Keep drinking even if it is preventing them from functioning normally, interfering with their family life, job, and other aspects of their life and causing issues with family and friends. Substance use disorder and addiction affect many people. Here’s a guide to symptoms, treatment options, and resources for different types of addiction.

Signs Your Partner Has an Alcohol Addiction

If you answered yes to either of these questions, then it may be time for you and your husband to seek help for his alcohol addiction. Alcohol use disorder is a serious disease that can range from mild to severe. If someone who drinks heavily tries but fails to stop or slow down, it could indicate that he has this condition, and it may even be moderate or severe.

You can seek the support of an interventionist if need be. Be careful, however, as interventions can send your husband into anger or defensiveness. Let your husband know that you love and support him, and want to see him healthy and happy. If your husband is drunk, acting aggressively, and you fear for your safety, have an escape plan. Have someone you can call late at night that can offer you a safe place to stay.

Options for Treatment, Care, and Family Support

In such scenario, the functions which are normally carried by husbands often fall on the wives that further add to their burden and suffering. If you have a husband who can’t or won’t stop drinking, he likely has an alcohol use disorder. As the spouse of someone who struggles with drinking, you face a lot of negative effects, from abuse to your own mental health issues. It is important to take steps to help your spouse and to protect yourself.

• One thing to keep in mind is that you should speak from your perspective and refrain from using any aggressive terminology.
• For many people, drinking is an ordinary part of life.