How to Deal with Husband Addiction
Table of Contents
Even the strongest marriages are at risk if one or both spouses are engaged in substance abuse. Drug or alcohol addiction is toxic to a marriage and can damage the family unit it many ways. Today we focus on how to deal with husband addiction – how to stay strong and find him the help he deserves.
Signs Your Husband has a Drug or Alcohol Addiction
To better understand addiction, and how to determine the severity of the addiction, it helps to know the signs. Here are the most common red flags that someone is engaging in substance abuse and is becoming addicted:
- He is unable to control drug or alcohol consumption
- He has not been able to cut back or quit the substance use
- Lies about or denies substance abuse; hides the substances in accessible places
- Devotes much thought and time to the substance use or recovering from it
- Has strong drug or alcohol cravings
- Increased tolerance that leads to higher consumption
- Ignores obligations, such as keeping up with family and work responsibilities
- Has little interest in hobbies or social activities he once enjoyed
- Continues substance abuse despite adverse effects on their life
- Engages in high-risk behaviors while under the influence
- Experiences withdrawal symptoms when effects of the drugs or alcohol wear off
How Addiction Impacts the Marriage
When a spouse is swept up in substance abuse, it isn’t only their world that is affected. The entire family suffers damage from the person’s addiction, but the ways that addiction can harm a marriage are countless.
Here are some of the ways addiction impacts a marriage:
- Erodes trust and intimacy between partners
- He engages in erratic, high-risk behaviors, causing stress and chaos
- Substance abuse leads to health problems, placing strain on both partners
- Negatively impacts job performance, putting family finances at risk
- He no longer wants to socialize with friends, making you feel isolated
- The addicted partner loses interest in activities he once enjoyed with the family
- Not able to be depended on or to fulfill family obligations and responsibilities
- Addicted husband becomes depressed, disrupting the family dynamic
- Increased risk of being physically or psychologically abusive
- He stops caring about his physical appearance and grooming habits
- The drug or alcohol abuse could lead to a divorce
How to Take Care of Yourself When Husband is in Active Addiction
As you cope to deal with husband addiction, you are likely to find your own health and mental state in decline. Here are some self-care actions to take to protect your own wellness:
- Stay connected to your friends and family members. You may no feel very social, but do stay connected to at least a few close friends. These are the people who will provide comfort and support during a husband’s addiction.
- Get therapy. A skilled therapist can offer tailored guidance and support during this challenging period in your marriage. The therapist may suggest some reading or assignments if they suspect any enabling or codependent behaviors.
- Stay active. You may not be up to going to the gym or taking a walk, but try to push through and get some exercise. Exercise helps reduce stress and can boost your mood.
- Practice self-care. Treat yourself to some pampering on occasion. These might include getting a massage or a facial, or attending a weekend retreat.
- Join a support group. Find your local Al-anon, Nar-anon, SMART Recovery for Family Members, or Codependents Anonymous to meet others going through the same journey.
What to Do if Your Husband is an Addict?
There are some things you can do to nudge your husband toward treatment. Consider these actions:
- Address the substance problem. Approach your husband about the substance abuse when he is not intoxicated. Find a quiet moment when you are alone together and calmly explain your concerns about his health.
- Start learning about substance use disorder. To gain a better understanding about what you are dealing with, read up and learn about the disease of addiction. Start researching different addiction treatment options and check with your insurance about coverage and copays.
- Resist codependency and enabling. These are two very common dysfunctional relating behaviors that often sneak into a marriage where a spouse is an addict. Learn how to deal with husband addiction without succumbing to these harmful tendencies.
- Consider an intervention. If your husband is not receptive to your concerns about his drug or alcohol addiction, consider an intervention. An addiction specialist can guide you and your family members in conducting the intervention.
Comprehensive Addiction Treatment for your Husband
When the day arrives that your husband decides to get help, it will be cause for celebration. It is helpful to have some basic knowledge of the steps he will take on the road to recovery.
The first decision to make is the level of care, to select an outpatient or residential addiction treatment facility. The outpatient rehab offers more flexibility and lower costs, and allows the spouse to reside at home during treatment. The residential rehab is more structured and offers a more intensive treatment approach. This makes residential the best setting for someone with a long history of addiction.
The treatment process for substance use disorder includes:
- Medical detox. The detox and withdrawal process is the entry point of recovery. During detox, a medically trained detox team will oversee your husband’s progress. These detox experts provide the medical interventions to keep withdrawal pain and discomfort in check. Detox takes 5-14 days on average to complete.
- Addiction treatment. Treatment will involve a multi-disciplinary approach. This includes:
- Evidence-based psychotherapy
- Group therapy
- Family therapy
- 12-step meetings
- Education
- Medication management
- Nutritional counseling
- Holistic therapies
- Relapse prevention planning
- Aftercare. After completing the treatment program, your husband will continue to participate in outpatient counseling sessions and 12-step group support.
Annandale Behavioral Health Leading Addiction Treatment Provider
Annandale Behavioral Health offers premier addiction treatment services within a compassionate, comfortable setting. If you want to know how to deal with husband addiction, we can help. First, your husband needs help to overcome the addiction. But you, the wife, also need support as your family begins the healing process. To find out more about how we can help, call us today at (855) 778-8668.
