To Provide High Quality Care and Protect Privacy of Records, We Do Not Accept Insurance.

Concierge Care Exclusively Tailored for the Clinical Needs and Coaching Demands of Professional Men, Executives, Entrepreneurs, Attorneys, Physicians & Surgeons.

Concierge Care Exclusively Tailored for the Clinical Needs and Coaching Demands of Professional Men, Executives, Entrepreneurs, Attorneys, Physicians & Surgeons.

banner - 2021-03-10T135806.724

How To Cope With a Spouse Who Has a Drug or Alcohol Addiction

Marriage is hard enough, even when you’re getting along and everything seems to be going perfectly. But, when one spouse is addicted to drugs or alcohol, it just might be one of the toughest challenges you’ll ever have to face. That’s because addiction involves more than just the person who has it — it affects the relationships and trust between you and your spouse, as well as your friends and other family members. Being married to someone with an addiction can take a mental, physical, and emotional toll on you that’s difficult to overcome. 

For those who are wondering what they can do to help their spouse while also prioritizing their own health, keep reading. We’ve compiled some helpful strategies that will allow you to provide the support your partner needs while building your own mental and emotional fortitude. If you’re looking for support in the form of relationship treatment, help for a toxic relationship, or drug addiction treatment in Los Angeles or the surrounding area, we encourage you to give Blair Wellness Group a call.  

Education and Understanding is Key

 

For someone unfamiliar with how addiction works, it might seem as though your spouse just doesn’t care about you enough to stop engaging in their destructive behavior. Despite the effect it’s having on your relationship and your family, they continue to do things that they know will make things worse. It’s easy to lay blame, but educating yourself on how addiction works will help you to better understand and accept that it’s not about a lack of willpower. Addictive substances actually change brain chemistry — making the process of altering addictive actions and behavior incredibly difficult. 

Provide Support Without Enabling

 

Because you love your spouse, you may want to do whatever it takes to help them and sometimes that means you may make excuses for them, allow them to neglect their responsibilities, or neglect your own needs to help. The problem is, in doing these types of things you’re actually causing more harm than good because you’re unknowingly allowing them to continue their behavior without facing the consequences. There are many ways that you can support your partner — you just have to make sure you’re doing it in a way that isn’t enabling them.

Seek Healthy Coping Strategies

 

Being the spouse of an addict can often feel lonely. It may seem like you no longer have the life partner you had when you first got married. Plus, the consequences of their addiction might fall on your shoulders, requiring you to do more around the house, take on a second job, or make other sacrifices for your family. To avoid becoming angry and resentful, it’s important to seek out healthy forms of coping that will provide you with an emotional outlet for everything you’re dealing with.  

For instance, make time every day just for yourself. Whether you use that time to exercise, meditate, engage in a hobby, or get out and have coffee with a friend, this much-needed break will allow you to relax and focus on your own mental wellness.  

Get the Support That Both of You Need

 

Chances are, you may have already talked to your spouse about getting help for their addiction, but for one reason or another, it just hasn’t happened yet. Some people are in denial that they have a problem, while others just become trapped in an unending cycle of unhealthy behaviors. What’s important to remember is that you shouldn’t give up. You can’t make someone seek treatment through force, guilt, or by any other means, but you can continue to gently remind them that recovery is possible, and it’s not something they can do on their own.

Just as your spouse needs support for their recovery, you, too, will benefit from seeking a caring and compassionate psychologist who can help you cope with the challenges of living with someone with an addiction. If you’re looking for someone who can provide the support that both of you need through relationship counseling or drug addiction treatment in Los Angeles, contact Blair Wellness Group at 310.999.4996 to schedule an appointment.

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related Blog

Understanding Emotional Sobriety: How a Licensed Psychologist and a Skilled Therapist Can Help

When most people think of sobriety, they think of recovering and abstaining from addictive substances and behaviors. However, there is also an idea known as emotional sobriety that ties into both Addiction Disorders and the wider world of Mental Health Conditions.   Understanding emotional sobriety means understanding your own relationship with negative thoughts, feelings, and circumstances.

The Negative Impact of Neglect in Childhood on Your Mental Health

The experiences you have as a child influence your life as an adult. In many ways, this is a good thing. The lessons you learn, the happy memories you make, and the dreams you have help shape who you are, creating the foundation for so many wonderful things in life. However, it can also be

Looking for a Local Psychologist?

Our Psychologists and Therapists in Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, Irvine, Newport Beach, and the surrounding areas offer evening and weekend appointments for our Concierge patients. Contact us today to discover how Blair Wellness Group can help you overcome personal or professional challenges and mental health disorders, such as depression, anxiety, relationship challenges, addiction issues, and personality disorders. 

Scroll to Top

Request An Appointment

  • MM slash DD slash YYYY
  • Cancellation/Refund Policy:

    Please note, there are absolutely no refunds for any of your prepaid sessions in case of broken appointments by you as the professional times and days were reserved for you and will be considered as broken appointments. We ask that you do not make appointments unless you fully intend to keep all your future weekly appointments as we do not issue refunds on ANY prepaid appointment. Please note, our practice is fully committed based on previously scheduled times for our clients at least 2 weeks in advance.
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.