How to Heal a Marriage Hurt by Addiction

Had I not gotten sober, we likely would’ve gone that way as well. I ate when I had to, sometimes drinking until 11 or 12 at night. My husband would hang in there for a few hours but would opt to give his lungs and liver a break and go inside to watch TV on the couch – like a normal person.

There were times I wasn’t sure we’d make it.

Soberlink is a remote alcohol monitoring system that provides documented proof of sobriety, fostering trust and accountability in relationships marred by alcohol misuse. If you are in recovery from addiction, it’s important to take things slow when it comes to rebuilding your marriage. Recovery is a process that takes time, and it’s important to focus on your sobriety first and foremost. That being said, there are things you can do to start rebuilding trust and communication with your spouse.

Consider Couples Therapy

marriage changes after sobriety

Thankfully, there have only been a few times when someone at the table hasn’t pointed it out on my behalf and adjusted accordingly. However, when it has happened, I have to speak up to point out that I didn’t drink and I’m not subsidizing their drinking. If you’re like me, this can feel entirely terrifying.

marriage changes after sobriety

Understanding Alcohol Use Disorder: The Medical Perspective

Mike ‘The Situation’ Sorrentino Is ‘Grateful’ to Make It to His 40s After Sobriety Struggles: ‘I Was So Wild’ – PEOPLE

Mike ‘The Situation’ Sorrentino Is ‘Grateful’ to Make It to His 40s After Sobriety Struggles: ‘I Was So Wild’.

Posted: Thu, 03 Aug 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

Addicts going through withdrawal are prone to mood swings and may lash out at those close to them. It is important for you to remember that these outbursts don’t reflect their true feelings. With that being said, when they cross a line be sure to communicate your feelings and do not accept abusive behavior. To support recovery and build hope for the future, it‘s important for the person in recovery to try to repair the damage done to relationships. For the person living with SUD who feels rejected, Green notes that this isolation can make it more challenging to receive the emotional support needed during recovery. If you’re in recovery for SUD, here’s how you can try to make amends with loved ones whose trust was bruised during addiction.

Alcoholism and The Elderly

Some of us try to convince ourselves that things will be fine now that our loved one is sober. We want to believe that sobriety is once and for all. We hope that being clean will return them to the person we once knew. Sober people and their partners understand marriage after sobriety that sobriety isn’t a joint effort. The person not drinking is the one doing the work, and there are others best positioned to help them in this ongoing effort. The recovering addict must also be patient as his or her spouse works to rebuild trust.

If people press that response, I’ll either stare at them and hold an uncomfortable silence (this is enjoyable at some point), or just change the subject. There are exceptions to this, like if someone alludes to their own struggle with https://ecosoberhouse.com/ alcohol, and then I might offer up a bit more of my personal experience. When people marry, they bring along a recording in their head of how their parents treated each other, as well as how they were treated by their parents.

Fortunately, a family friend found him a bed at a center for homeless men with addictions. After graduating a year-long program, Lyle felt compelled to give back and began doing service work. Quickly this turned into a passion to help others that led to study the treatment industry top to bottom. He learned state statutes and regulations, and studied counseling practices from several angles. This eventually led him back to school for a degree in psychology. Lyle was VP of a 6-county homeless coalition and a founding member of the Mental Health Action Team in Miami-Dade County.

  • The marriage won’t look the same as it used to, back in the days of addiction, but that can be a good thing.
  • That’s because codependency is a relationship trait and condition that’s independent of the substance use itself.
  • Each spouse should also be attending 12-step support groups.
  • I can honestly say sobriety is the best thing I have ever done for myself.
  • As the partner of someone in recovery, it can be confusing and overwhelming.

Living with someone with a substance use disorder

marriage changes after sobriety

Sober Bars: Understanding What Sober Bars Are

  • Sobriety is kind of like the fast-pass line at Disneyland, except the ride is growing up.
  • There are probably underlying issues that have not been addressed.
  • If you’re in recovery for SUD, here’s how you can try to make amends with loved ones whose trust was bruised during addiction.
  • Rebuilding a marriage damaged by alcoholism isn’t easy.

Gordon Price

Back to top