Addiction In a Relationship
When one person in a relationship is addicted to a drug, his or her behavior
and mindset can change for the worse. In some severe cases, a partner
may become abusive. This can be a scary and problematic situation.
A person is not his or herself when suffering from addiction. For example,
people that suffer from addiction may be deceitful or lie to get more
drugs. When doing so, they may even pass the blame to others if they get caught.
Being in a relationship with someone that suffers from addiction can cause
problems for both partners and can create an unstable and tense environment.
Not to mention, things can get even more problematic if there are children
involved.
A child’s development can be impacted negatively if one or both parents
suffer from an addiction. Not to mention the financial, legal, and intimacy
problems that come with being the spouse of an addict. There are several
things to keep in mind when helping a loved one get help. This includes
being supportive while
not enabling them.
How Can You Help Your Addicted Spouse?
While it may seem like a lost cause, there are certain things you can do
to help as the spouse of an addict. With this in mind, there are a lot
of things to be aware of not doing to avoid enabling or developing a codependent
relationship. Setting healthy boundaries and helping your loved one get
better are both great ways to get your spouse on the right track.
Being married to an addict can be stressful but there are always things
you can do to help. A few ways to set and keep healthy boundaries include:
- Allow room for family members that suffer from addiction to take care of
themselves. This could come in the form of making their own lunches or
cleaning up after themselves.
- Avoiding letting a loved one’s negative mood affect how your feel
- Taking care of yourself (eating well, visiting the doctor when needed,
taking medication, and sleeping well)
- Manage stress any way you can, attend support groups, listen to positive
music, take a walk, engage in hobbies, and try to keep your mind open
and positive.
- Rely on the help of professionals like therapists, doctors, and other medical
specialists.
- Know when to get help in potentially dangerous situations.
These are great practices that make sure that you are setting boundaries
while not enabling your spouse.
Therapy Options for Couples
Therapy is one of the most important aspects of addiction treatment and
recovery in general. As the spouse of an addict, you and your partner
need to take the necessary steps towards therapy together.
At one point, professionals thought that the best way to help people with
addictions was to isolate them from their loved ones. However, in modern
times, getting treatment as a family/couple has been proven to be very
beneficial.
Attending couples therapy with a trained professional that works in the
addiction field can do wonders. During these sessions, couples can communicate
their problems better.
Addiction is something that affects both individuals in a relationship
and being on the same page is crucial. Resolving conflicts and learning
how to help each other is part of the process.
With this in mind, it’s important to know that the journey doesn’t
end when inpatient or outpatient treatment does. Addiction and recovery
take time and care from both parties.
Being married to an addict, especially one in recovery, takes time. Together
though, you can help maintain a healthy and supportive relationship as
you both work towards sobriety. Therapy is a great help during addiction
treatment and is one of many treatment options available at Grace Land
Recovery.
Professional Addiction Treatment
It may be time to seek professional help, especially if you have begun
to experience the negative effects of your/your partner’s addiction.
Fortunately, there are several addiction treatment and resource options.
Being the spouse of an addict can be stressful, however, with the right
treatment, both you and your partner can live a better and more cohesive life.
Some of the most commonly abused drugs out there today include:
Each of these creates its own symptoms and effects on the body. It’s
important to look out for behavior changes and physical symptoms of dependence
and withdrawal. These can be anything from loss of interest in daily activities,
changes in appearance, to lying or making excuses for drug use, physical
symptoms, and other symptoms.
Here at Grace Land Recovery, we offer a wide range of addiction treatment
options. If you or your spouse is dealing with addiction, we may be able
to help. Let’s take a look at some of our treatment options with
you in mind.
Outpatient treatment is one of the most widely used addiction treatment
methods. This form of treatment is made up of weekly visits to a rehab
center (typically 3-5 days a week). These can be done during the day or
at night.
Outpatient treatment doesn’t require you to live in a rehab center.
This form of treatment is more flexible to fit your needs.
If you or your spouse have children, jobs, work, or other obligations,
outpatient treatment is a great option. However, outpatient treatment
is for milder cases of addiction and is commonly used after inpatient
treatment has ended. This is because you are not staying at a rehab center
with 24/7 support and constant guidance while receiving outpatient treatment.
Outpatient treatment remains an effective and convenient way to overcome
addiction though.
Partial hospitalization programs are a form of outpatient treatment that
requires more hours per week than a traditional outpatient program. PHP’s
include sessions that are 5-8 hours a day and occur between 5-7 days a
week. PHP is one of the more restrictive forms of treatment but allows
a level of convenience like other forms of outpatient treatment.
PHP’s are usually very structured and intense and can closely resemble
inpatient treatment types. Those who are in a PHP are allowed to spend
their evening at their homes.
PHPs are great rehab options for people with more severe cases of addiction.
They may also be a great option for you or your spouse.
Therapy is a vital part of the addiction treatment process. Being married
to an addict can be a complex and stressful situation. Typically, therapy
is used to help addicts change their behaviors and thought processes for
recovery.
CBT,
group, and
family therapy are all options available at Graceland Recovery. Don’t wait to get
the help you or your loved ones require.
Start the Journey Today
Being the spouse of an addict can be a painful and stressful situation
for everyone involved. Fortunately, centers like Graceland Recovery can
help. Our wonderful team will help you every step of the way and do everything
they can to make sobriety/recovery a reality.
Don’t hesitate to
contact us today to get you or your spouse’s addiction recovery journey started.
