Home > Getting Help > Help For My Alcoholic Wife
If you think that your wife or partner may have an alcohol problem, you’re in the right place. At Help4Addiction, we can guide you through the rehab process, and give you helpful advice on how you can help your wife, and where to find the right rehab treatment.
Alcoholism not only affects the person with the problem but affects their families and friends too. It can have both immediate and long-lasting effects on families that can span across entire generations, which is one of the reasons that alcoholism is known as a family disease.
Alcohol use disorder is a chronic disease affecting over 14 million people. If you think your wife has an alcohol addiction, it’s important that she gets the help she deserves – and you deserve.
However, you may not be able to provide her with the help she needs alone – and alcohol rehab may be the next step.
Read on to learn some of the key signs of alcoholism to look for in your wine, and for some ways that you can help your wife. We’ll also be exploring rehab options, so you and your partner know what to expect from rehab.
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It is important to identify alcohol abuse and addiction before the problem escalates – every day that your partner is struggling with alcohol addiction is another day wasted.
Likewise, your partner’s alcoholism may be affecting you. Not only can it be difficult to watch your wife struggle with addiction, but alcohol addiction has been linked to mental illness and domestic violence/ intimate partner violence.
Back in 2019, 39% of all violent incidents across England and Wales were alcohol-related. This figure hasn’t changed much in over ten years.
Alcohol abuse also increases the risk of legal issues and financial difficulties, which can put a strain on the family unit and household. Alcoholism has also been linked to risky sexual behaviours, which can put a strain on any marriage and lead to separation or divorce.
If your wife is unable to function without alcohol or struggles to control how much she drinks, then this suggests that they are dependent on alcohol.
You should encourage your wife to an addiction specialist if you’re concerned about your partner’s drinking. A specialist can explore the diagnostic criteria and find the right support. Here are some signs to look out for:
Alcohol use disorder is characterised by the lack of control over alcohol consumption. This means that your alcoholic spouse may be unable to control:
They may drink alcohol at inappropriate times or in inappropriate places, or struggle to stop drinking once they start.
Alcohol can quickly become the priority of an alcoholic. This means that they may neglect their responsibilities, or stop partaking in hobbies or activities they once enjoyed to abuse alcohol.
Somebody with alcohol dependence may be aware of the negative consequences of their drinking but continue to do so anyway.
They may also attempt to stop drinking, but end up relapsing. Alcohol addiction is a relapsing disease that can be very difficult to overcome without the right support.
People with an alcohol dependence will experience withdrawal symptoms when they stop drinking. Alcohol withdrawal symptoms can affect a person’s physical and mental health – they may feel unwell for a while after stopping drinking.
Withdrawal symptoms can vary from person to person, depending on a range of factors such as medical history and addiction history. Some physical withdrawal symptoms include headache, fever, sweating, red face, hand tremors, appetite changes, nausea, and vomiting.
Some psychological withdrawal symptoms can include anxiety, mood swings, and low mood. Severe alcohol withdrawal – for example, delirium tremens, can involve hallucinations. If your partner is experiencing severe withdrawal, seek medical attention.
Another sign that your partner has an alcohol problem is that they have an increased tolerance to alcohol.
As they drink more alcohol, over time, their bodies will get used to this level of alcohol intake. This means that they will drink more alcohol to feel the same effect.
You may notice that your partner is drinking the same amount as you but still appearing sober, or needs more alcohol to feel ‘drunk’.
Although you may wish to help your alcoholic partner yourself, it can be difficult without professional guidance. However, it’s possible to support your partner and encourage them to seek professional alcohol treatment.
One of the first things you should try when dealing with an alcoholic and helping a loved one with an alcohol problem is simply speaking to them. Open up and discuss your concerns regarding their alcohol intake, and ask how they’d feel if they were to stop drinking.
However, it may be difficult to approach the subject if your wife is in denial about their addiction.
Avoid expressing anger or extreme emotion when discussing the issue, and try to avoid hurting their feelings. Keep in mind that alcoholism is a disease, and it can feel very difficult to quit drinking without help.
This is the time to share how your alcoholic husband or wife is making you feel. How is it affecting you? How is it affecting the rest of the family? Are you worried about your partner’s health?
It may take a few attempts before your partner begins to listen, which is why some people choose to stage an alcohol intervention.
An intervention can include family members, loved ones, or even medical professionals or mental health services.
Be sure to conduct research before staging an intervention, and consider carefully the goals of the intervention. The aim of your intervention may be for your wife to recognise their dangerous drinking habits, understand the harm they’re doing to themselves or others, or get them to consider alcohol rehab.
Living with an alcoholic can be difficult, so it is important to look after your well-being too. Taking care of somebody with an alcohol problem can be draining, so you must make time for yourself.
Make sure that your social life doesn’t decline, and be sure to make time for yourself. It can be too easy to isolate yourself, so be sure that you’re still seeing friends and taking care of your well-being.
You don’t have to deal with this problem alone. Although you may have the desire to help your partner alone, this isn’t always the best option. There is help out there for you and your wife.
At Help4Addiction, we can work with your wife to find the best place for her to receive alcohol addiction treatment and addiction support. We can discuss the most suitable substance abuse treatment options – whether it be inpatient rehab, outpatient rehab, private rehab or NHS rehab – and find the right treatment plan to treat your wife’s addiction.
Trust Help4Addiction to help your wife overcome alcohol and substance abuse issues. The first step towards recovery is detoxing from alcohol. However, after detox, we recommend a comprehensive rehab program, involving therapy and aftercare support.
Therapy can teach your wife effective coping strategies and relapse-prevention techniques. It also offers a safe space to discuss her problems. Some therapies include family therapy, group therapy, individual counselling, and CBT.
Ongoing support is key when it comes to long-term recovery. Support groups such as Al-Anon can be helpful, as well as ongoing counselling and group therapy sessions.
Contact us today to learn more about the treatment process and secure a spot at the most suitable rehab clinic that meets your needs, preferences, and recovery goals, whether it be inpatient treatment, outpatient treatment or online rehab.
Nicholas Conn is a leading industry addiction expert who runs the UK’s largest addiction advisory service and is regularly featured in the national press, radio and TV. He is the founder and CEO of a drug and alcohol rehab center called Help4addiction, which was founded in 2015. He has been clean himself since 2009 and has worked in the Addiction and Rehab Industry for over a decade. Nick is dedicated to helping others recover and get treatment for drug and alcohol abuse. In 2013, he released a book ‘The Thin White’ line that is available on Amazon.
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