And finally, talk with your friends about your decision and ask for support. If you have concerns about your relationship with alcohol, you might be wondering how to modify your drinking without stopping completely. One place to start is with your doctor, who can help you come up with a plan.
Making some changes
- Relationship problems are a common byproduct of alcohol addiction, though there are several ways to combat it.
- There is a direct correlation between alcohol use in relationships and the quality of intimacy among partners.
- The good news is that cutting back on your consumption offers far more benefits than the challenges it may present .
- Whether one partner drinks too much or both partners do, alcohol problems can lead to increased arguments, hurt feelings, and emotional distance in a relationship.
- It’s increasingly common for someone to be diagnosed with a condition such as ADHD or autism as an adult.
Sometimes, a codependent relationship can grow between a person with an alcohol use problem and their partner. For instance, a codependent spouse may look to the drinker for constant validation, become overly involved in the person’s emotions, and try to “fix” them. You can expect to answer questions about the number of times you drink alcohol in a week, if you’ve ever tried to quit drinking, how you deal with cravings, how you feel after drinking, and more. If the results indicate any issues, it might be time to ask yourself about the role alcohol plays in your life. Often, this journey begins with a better understanding of alcohol use disorder. In addition to self-care, partners of those affected by alcohol addiction can intervene by helping them find rehabilitation services.
Discuss issues when you’re sober, not when you’ve been drinking
Take our short alcohol quiz to learn where you fall on the drinking spectrum and if you might benefit from quitting or cutting back on alcohol. This codependency can quickly become toxic, leading to harmful ups and downs for both people involved. We all like to do our best for our children but sometimes we are not too sure what that is. Keeping a distance will also prevent your loved one from influencing you to allow the addiction to continue or crossing boundaries. While shielding your partner from the truth may seem an innocent defense mechanism, it can eventually lead to consistent lies and more and more mistrust in the relationship.
How to Help an Alcoholic Partner
Although ditching old routines such as drinks after work or get-togethers with alcohol is a step in the right direction, you also need to develop new habits. If excess drinking continues to progress, you risk moving to severe alcohol use disorder, which can lead to alcohol dependence or alcoholism. Several types of professional programs and levels of addiction services can treat alcohol use disorder, ensuring your loved one can seek one out that best fits their needs and lifestyle.
In fact, research from 2019 has shown that can alcohol affect the gallbladder alcohol behavioral couple therapy can help participants drink less, decrease conflict, and increase communication between partners. If you’ve reached the point where it’s hard to communicate with your partner, consider reaching out to a therapist who specializes in couples and family counseling for help getting back on track. Instead of trying to solve issues while under the influence, it’s OK to take a step back and address it at a later time, when you’re sober.
Your ability to enjoy alcohol is ultimately predicated on how well you can do so responsibly. And it’s up to you and your partner to decide if and how alcohol can maintain a place in your relationship. The good news is that cutting back on your consumption offers far more benefits than the challenges it may present how to get someone fired . And just imagine how nice it would be to never have to live through another hangover.
These groups allow members to speak in a safe environment about the impact alcohol has on their lives. Peers can provide advice and comfort to help one another through tough times. Support settings often provide several therapeutic benefits for attendees. Drinking problems can adversely change marital and family functioning, but they may also increase due to family problems.
Strong relationships are built on honesty and trust — secrecy is a red flag. Even when you have a strong connection with your significant other, your feelings can be reduced due to a strong need and desire to drink. For example, if you’ve forgotten important dates due to drinking or canceled plans from a severe hangover, your drinking may be causing relationship problems.
On the other hand, you may use alcohol to try to manage the stress and challenging emotions that arise as a result of relationship troubles. Taking an honest look at your relationship with alcohol is not easy, but for many of us, it is necessary. If unpacking all of this on your own is causing excess stress or anxiety, consider asking an expert for help. Reach out today at and talk to one of our compassionate and knowledgeable admissions navigators. They can answer your questions, explain the treatment options, even verify insurance.
And when this dynamic is present in your relationship, it can lead to frequent, full-blown arguments about alcohol use. If someone in a relationship has a drinking problem, it can leave the other person feeling disconnected and distant from their partner. And even if both parties drink together, they might only feel a sense of connection while the alcohol is involved. This can lead to reduced intimacy and a disconnect in the relationship as a whole. Below, learn about the effects of alcohol on relationships, whats in whippets along with six signs that drinking might be impacting yours.