Living with an Alcoholic Husband
Living with an alcoholic husband is often a stressful and anxiety-ridden environment. Excessive drinking can cause co-occurring issues such as domestic violence, financial difficulties and frequent unemployment. Without professional help, the alcoholic is unlikely to stop on his own.
According to recent statistics, a man is almost five times more likely to become an alcoholic than their female counterparts. It’s not clear why some people develop alcoholism (though genetics and environment are thought to play a part), but it’s usually the inability to cope with life’s stresses that set off an unhealthy drinking pattern.
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Living with an Alcoholic Husband: The Alcohol Abuse Cycle
Most diseases usually follow an easily identifiable pattern.
For alcoholism, the pattern includes:
- Urge To Drink: Known as an alcoholic’s “craving”, his body has been conditioned to drink to combat stress, fatigue, or even boredom.
- Inability To Stop: Once an alcoholic has started drinking, they’re often unable to stop. This is the stage in which most blackouts occur.
- Dependence: If he stops drinking abruptly, the alcoholic will go through physical withdrawal symptoms such as nausea, sweating, tremors, and seizures.
- Tolerance. After heavy, long-term drinking, the alcoholic’s body adjusts, requiring more alcohol than ever before to curb withdrawal symptoms.
How Do I Know If I’m Living With An Alcoholic Husband?
Identifying substance abuse as soon as possible is critical to get your husband the help they need. Most mental health professionals agree that the following signs may indicate a problem:
- Legal issues related to alcohol (domestic violence, DUIs, etc.)
- Missing excessive amounts of work due to drinking
- Difficulties maintaining relationships with family, co-workers, and friends
- Having more than two drinks per day
- Inability to stop once drinking has started
Is It Safe For My Husband To Stop On His Own?
Within just a few of hours of quitting, the alcoholic will begin to suffer withdrawal symptoms. Without access to proper medical care during this challenging period, he may turn back to drinking to alleviate his suffering. Should he choose to ride out the withdrawal alone, however, he puts himself in danger of dying due to withdrawal-induced seizures.
Following detox at a partner facility, Serenity Lodge in Lake Arrowhead, California, offers our male clients access to licensed and accredited treatment to help them identify the root of their addiction. For co-occurring mental health and addiction issues, we offer effective dual diagnosis treatment as well.
Therapy builds upon the physical sobriety gained in detox by tackling the psychology of your husband’s alcoholism. One way therapists correct your husband’s drinking is behavioral therapy, an evidence-based method focused on retraining the brain. Therapists help your husband stop the self-destructive behavior involved in their alcoholism. A second method used to combat alcoholism is holistic healing, including massage, expressive arts, and meditation. Holistic therapy revolves around on the power of participation in positive experiences. Creative activity helps your alcoholic husband work through repressed emotions, and meditation helps clear and calm the mind.
Group therapy is another central pillar of stopping alcoholism. Group therapy gathers alcoholics around the collective goal of sobriety as they work with a therapist. Therapies offered to alcoholics at Serenity Lodge include, but aren’t limited to:
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). ACT, a type of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) calls for people to alter negative behaviors. ACT shows clients how to stop drinking by teaching them how to overcome negative thoughts and feelings.
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. CBT therapists help alcoholics develop coping strategies to discourage negative behavior. Clients also learn new, more highly productive ways to deal with life without having to cope via the bottle.
- Relapse Prevention
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy
- Experiential Therapy
- 12-Step Programs
- Family Support Program
- Group Therapy Program
Our Lodge offers amenities such as private rooms, a library, pool, sauna, and professional recording studio to name a few. Our tranquil 22-acre setting gives our clients a comfortable, understanding place to start their healing process.
If you’re living with an alcoholic husband, there’s hope to mend your broken relationship. Call Serenity Lodge today at [Direct] to discuss how we can help you get back the husband you once knew.
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