5 Tips To Improve Living With an Alcoholic Spouse
Anyone married to an alcoholic spouse is familiar with the extreme ups and downs. When your alcoholic husband or alcoholic wife has been drinking, they are most likely very difficult to get along with. Many people describe their alcoholic spouse to me as a great person when they are sober. Right now, you are living with both sides of your spouse; the good (sweet, caring) and the bad (angry, volatile, critical, aggressive).
Here are the 5 ways not to let “the dark side” of your alcoholic spouse rule over you:
1. Quit trying to get your alcoholic spouse to stop drinking alcohol. Give up that power struggle. It creates tension and is ineffective. It will free you to give up this role of trying to control your spouse’s disease.
2. Stop any codependent behavior. Do not rescue your alcoholic husband or alcoholic wife by lying or covering up for them. Codependent behaviors perpetuate excessive drinking.
3. Go to Al-Anon meetings or Families Anonymous to get support from others whose spouse has a probem with excessive drinking. It will help you feel less alone and learn how others have made this transition.
4. Start building your own life separate from your alcoholic spouse. I know this is tough, but it means reaching out to friends, looking for enjoyng your job, finding hobbies, taking the family places even if your alcoholic husband or alcoholic wife doesn’t show up (Church, family functions etc.).
5) Consider an alcohol intervention with a professional interventionist to help break though your alcoholic spouse’s denial of their disease.
If you want additional help turning your marriage around click here to register for my free report on, “ 5 Proven Methods For a Healthier Marriage With Your Alcoholic Spouse”. It may save your family’s life. The information in this report gives you very simple strategies that could very well save your marriage.
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2 Responses to “5 Tips To Improve Living With an Alcoholic Spouse”
Itzli on February 23, 2012
My husband is on his 5th dui, a felony. He’s been on a scram unit for almost a yr and our relationship got way better. The only problem is he was supposed to go to treatment but keeps getting wires crossed. Getting help is hard. He got the scram off and now I’m worried..
Dr. Uhr on February 23, 2012
You have a reason to be worried. Chances of relapse are high with his history. He needs treatment. Make sure to go to Al-anon if you are not already going. You will need extra support. Ask yourself what is keeping you in the marriage. By the way, if your husband goes to inpatient treatment, it may save his life.