Author: Charles Frank

When Its Time To Leave an Alcoholic: Can They Change?

You may find that you’re spending all your time doing damage control at your job, with friends and family, or dealing with the fallout from the drinking. If your partner is not hearing your pleas and concerns and won’t even consider how their behavior impacts you, the problem is more significant than just their drinking. Many children of alcoholics report feelings of depression and anxiety, and research shows they are more likely to have self-esteem issues. Just because they aren’t physical, it doesn’t mean they’re any less damaging. For anyone questioning how to leave an alcoholic, know that you’re not alone. Many have walked this path before you and have come out stronger on the other side.

You also once thought you’d spend the rest of your life with this person. While millions of people recover from alcoholism and addiction, some don’t. Here are some signs that leaving an alcoholic might be the best decision.

Signs it’s time to leave an alcoholic spouse

1. The FHE Health team is committed to providing accurate information that adheres to the highest standards of writing.
2. For example, an Al-Anon group can provide you with the guidance you need.
3. You can’t force your addicted spouse into alcohol treatment, and you can’t do the work for them.
4. Being in a relationship with alcoholic spouses clearly has negative consequences for the other persons in the relationship.
5. Perhaps you’ve held an intervention, or several, and your partner won’t enter an addiction treatment facility, it should give you pause.
6. If you never tell them how their actions affect you, they will likely never know.

It’s important to remember that alcoholism is a disease and that you cannot control your partner’s behavior. Having an alcoholic husband or wife in your home has such a negative ripple effect. It impacts everything from finances, time, relationships, and personal health. When a partner is in active addiction, you are exposed to the stressors of their behavior. Many alcoholics cannot sustain their careers and lose their jobs.

Drinking and Driving Statistics Show Devastation Continues

The following resources may be helpful for yourself, your family members, and/or the individual struggling with alcohol misuse. When you live with a spouse who has an alcohol use disorder, taking care of yourself is important. The answers to these questions can help you determine if and when it is time to leave a relationship with a partner who has an alcohol use disorder. In some cases, families may hire a professional interventionist to mediate and assist with the conversation.

My Partner is an Alcoholic: How to Cope with an Alcoholic Partner

You may feel constantly stressed, worried, or anxious about your partner’s behavior, which can affect your own ability to function and thrive. The question of whether an alcoholic can change is a complex one. On one hand, recovery is possible, and many people with alcoholism are able to achieve sobriety and live healthy, fulfilling lives. On the other hand, not everyone with alcoholism is able to change, and it’s important to be realistic about your partner’s chances of recovery. Research has also shown that children who experience alcoholism in their daily lives are more likely to suffer from emotional and behavioral issues. Problems at school are also common, and it stands to reason that they would act out if their home, which is supposed to be a safe haven, isn’t a safe space.

Alcohol use disorders are chronic conditions, but many people benefit from treatment and ongoing recovery efforts. Treatment options vary in intensity of services, length of treatment, and types of therapeutic interventions. Some of these treatment options may include inpatient treatment (such as residential rehabilitation), outpatient treatment, individual therapy, medications, and more. Keep in mind that people who struggle with alcoholism may relapse. This means they may go through treatment, maintain sobriety for a period, and then return to drinking. When thinking about leaving an alcoholic boyfriend, girlfriend, or spouse, a person may decide to give things one last chance and try to get help for an alcoholic.

Your Support System Is Begging You To Leave

For instance, if you drive them everywhere so they don’t get a DUI, bail them out of jail, or pay for their alcohol-related damages, you are, in effect, supporting their addiction. Instead, you need to set boundaries for yourself and your relationship. So, if you feel that it’s time to leave an alcoholic spouse, trust your instincts. In the meantime, it’s important to prioritize your own well-being. Consider setting boundaries with your partner around their drinking behavior, such as refusing to be around them when they’re drunk or asking them not to drink in front of you. Seek support from a therapist or a support group for loved ones of people struggling with addiction.

Prioritizing your own well-being is not only important for yourself – it also sets an example for your partner about the importance of self-care on the road to recovery. Setting boundaries is an important part of any relationship, but it’s especially crucial when you’re in a relationship with an alcoholic. Boundaries can help protect your own well-being and communicate your needs and expectations to your partner. Dating or being married to someone who struggles with alcoholism can be incredibly challenging and stressful. Alcoholism can impact every aspect of a relationship, from communication to intimacy to shared responsibilities. You need to know that your experience with an alcoholic spouse is traumatic and damaging to you and your children.

When to Leave an Alcoholic: Should You Go?

Resources like Al-Anon and private counseling can provide the support and guidance needed to make informed decisions. Dating a functional alcoholic can be fun at first because people who are high-functioning alcoholics tend to be the life of the party. Once you get to really know them, you likely recognize how serious their alcohol dependency is.

Stay in touch.

If you fear for your safety or worry that your children are in danger when your spouse is intoxicated, you have every reason to leave. Whether the violent outbursts involve physical confrontations between you and your spouse or them being destructive to furniture or other items around the house, it is no longer safe for you.

It’s hard enough being married to someone who abuses alcohol. When children are involved, it takes everything to another level. One issue that often comes along with alcoholism is domestic violence and aggressive outbursts.