Coping Patterns in Partners of Alcoholics
The Secret Sisters Circle is my transformative coaching program that will teach you how to navigate nearly every day-to-day scenario you could encounter with an alcoholic husband. One of the best places to start your learning journey as the wife of an alcoholic is with the Married to Addiction podcast. We can make verbal communication effective if we never lose sight of the fact that the alcoholic is sick; he has a disease for which it is unfair to blame him or punish him. But he must be told—at the right time and without anger or reproach—what he has done and is doing.
Rebuild communication, not just routines
The blamer may also struggle with feelings of guilt and shame, as she may blame herself for her husband’s drinking or feel responsible for not being able to “fix” him. Additionally, her negative and critical attitude can create a toxic and stressful environment in the relationship, making it more difficult for her husband to seek help or support. The four types of wives of alcoholics are the placater, the blamer, the intellectualizer, and the rejecter. Each type has a distinct way of coping with the challenges posed by their husband’s alcoholism. The placater tries to maintain peace and stability in the relationship by avoiding confrontation and covering up for her husband’s behavior.
The Recovery Village South Atlanta
Arguing is also considered to be another form of engaged coping which was used often by 70% wives. The ratings on the tolerant coping revealed that very few wives of alcoholics often used this coping strategy. It was only 3% of them who often gave money to their alcoholic partner, only 13% of them often considered the problem of alcoholism as a part of life that could not be changed. It was only 6% of them who used tolerant coping to an extent to make excuses for their partner.
- According to some studies, husbands are three times more likely to increase their alcohol intake if their wives start drinking heavily.
- By engaging in couples therapy and family counseling, families can work together to rebuild trust, strengthen relationships, and create a supportive network to aid the recovery process.
- Establishing a safe space can build trust, so showing them you won’t use harsh language or say unkind things can encourage them to open up more candidly about their drinking.
- If you are the wife of an alcoholic, have you ever begged your husband to quit drinking?
- The responses from the alcoholic towards a nonfamily member can be less reactive as well.
Health Conditions
Even binge drinking or alcohol warning signs may be missed or be perceived as moderate or tolerable. A functional alcoholic is almost always an alcoholic or a family who is comparing them to those worse off than them. Download this comprehensive ebook on rehab treatment and recovery and help your family get your lives back from addiction and poor mental health. Over time, these emotional strains can escalate into more serious mental health issues if you do not receive proper support.
Children of Alcoholics
By shielding them from the negative repercussions of their actions, the enabler inadvertently allows the addiction to flourish. This can manifest in various ways, such as constantly monitoring the alcoholic’s drinking, making excuses for their actions, or taking on responsibilities that the alcoholic should be handling themselves. In essence, the codependent spouse becomes consumed by the alcoholic’s problems, often neglecting their own needs and well-being in the process. AUD is characterized by a compulsive need to consume alcohol, despite its negative consequences on one’s health, relationships, and overall well-being. Alcoholism carries a significant social stigma, often leading to shame, secrecy, and isolation for both the alcoholic and their family.
There aren’t too many podcasts for spouses of alcoholics to begin with, much less for Christian wives of alcoholics. Recovery from alcoholism is a challenging and ongoing process that requires perseverance and support. If you are living with an alcoholic spouse, there are steps you can take to encourage their sobriety and support their relapse prevention Types of Alcoholics efforts.
Living with an alcoholic partner: Problems faced and coping strategies used by wives of alcoholic clients
Learning about the disease model of AUD and what kind of treatment is required to sustain sobriety will equip you with both the knowledge and empathy needed to get your partner the help they need. Being educated will additionally help you learn how to navigate these next steps your family is, hopefully, about to take. If your spouse is intoxicated, their “normal” duties tend to fall to the wayside as they are not of immediate importance.
hard truths and realities of being married to an alcoholic
There are several ways you can support your spouse’s recovery while also ensuring that your own health is being taken care of. In many cases, alcoholics are not only neglecting themselves but are also ignoring the needs of their spouse and children. That neglect of children can show itself in not picking them up from school and not ensuring that they are being given dinner. Anxiety often occurs because of how unpredictably someone who is addicted to alcohol tends to act.


















