The majority of Americans source their peace and joy from having intimate relationships with their spouses. Marriages are wonderful institutions until either of the partners becomes a drug addict. The home that was once a safe haven turns into a hole of violence, tears, chaos, and emotional distress. Substance abuse triggers behaviors such as social withdrawal, constant lying, financial irresponsibility, and mood swings which undermine the trust and bond between partners. If children are involved, issues such as child neglect, conflicts over parental responsibilities, and child abuse may occur as a result of one partner’s substance abuse.
Addiction also affects the addict and his personal life. It’s painful watching a loved one struggle with pain and addiction, perhaps even losing their employment status and sources of income. If you are looking to help your spouse out of the addiction menace both for the benefit of themselves and your relationship, this piece will cover the guidelines.
Accept the fact that your partner has an addiction
Addiction is an extremely sensitive topic among many people. On top of that, a lot of stigma and negative attitude surrounds the addiction and treatment topic. You may ignore the red flags that your spouse may be showing in an attempt to protect both of you and your feelings. Sometimes, it’s easier to pretend that everything is okay. However, being in denial doesn’t help either you or your spouse.
Research on addiction topics
Now that you realize there is a ticking time bomb, you might want to familiarize yourself with addiction, what an addict goes through, how it harms them, and how you can help. Addiction is in itself, a disease that demands an effective remedy immediately. To understand the life of an addict from a neutral perspective, you might want to learn about addiction and everything about it. Today, information is easily accessible through online resources and experienced specialists. Consider talking to a specialist and air all your concerns to gain a clearer picture of your spouse’s situation.
Cut out the enabling elements
Enabling addiction is key to allowing the behavior to thrive. You might want to take a look at these addiction enabling aspects that trigger your spouse to fall more into the addiction menace. It could stress-related or perhaps lack of self-confidence in themselves. Eliminate all stress triggers and encourage them to be their best versions. You could try and keep them occupied with other productive tasks to prevent them from walking right into their addiction circle.
Talk to them about the viable treatment options
Your spouse needs to know that you support them through the recovery journey. But first, you need to convince them that treatment is the only resort to their addiction problem. Consider helping them choose an excellent rehab center and give them the support they need to beat the stigma and accept treatment. According to statistics, addicts who voluntarily accept substance abuse treatment have a higher success rate at thriving after rehab and not relapsing back into drug abuse. It is vital to ensure that your spouse is joining rehab voluntarily for long-term drug treatment.
Join family therapies together
Rehab programs take into consideration immediate relationships that may have been broken or weakened by the addict’s behavior. You could sign both you and your spouse for spouse or family therapies. These conversations mainly focus on revealing what drove the addict into the habit of abusing substance, how to solve marital issues step by step and how to support your spouse. Therapies assist both parties to heal and recover from the broken past.
Offering continued support
Even after treatment, you need to give your spouse continual support to prevent relapse and strengthen the relationship you are just trying to mend. Provide both moral and emotional support to help your spouse regain footing, self-confidence, and overcome the addiction. You might want to educate family members and friends interested in chipping in their support. Help them understand the treatment process, how to support your spouse, and how to help them fight the addiction. You may also want to gauge your expectations reasonably. Be sure not to pressure them into recovering quickly beyond their pace.
Now that you have a detailed guideline on how to help your spouse fight the drug addiction menace, remember to work towards preventing the possibility of a relapse. You wouldn’t want to see your effort go to the drain. For more guidance on how to aid an addicted spouse, call us on our helpline at 844-639-8371 and let us serve you.