How Do You Support Your Sober Partner in Recovery? 13 Real Strategies

If a couple has used the tools to grow a healthy relationship, they could find themselves in a thriving marriage. They have grown together, and together they have grown stronger. The marriage won’t look the same as it used to, back in marriage after sobriety the days of addiction, but that can be a good thing. Confronting alcoholism is a challenging process both for those abusing alcohol and their loved ones. As the partner of someone in recovery, it can be confusing and overwhelming.

• Others find the burden is too heavy and decide to end their relationships.
• As you express yourself through writing, it’ll gradually become easier to express yourself verbally as well.
• Particularly in the early stages, try to keep your shared space sober-friendly.
• Your partner may relapse one or more times before finally achieving long-term sobriety.

There is open and honest communication about feelings around alcohol.

Personally, I always thought drunk people were fun, and I didn’t want my own poop relationship with alcohol to stand out. I wanted to blend in nicely with a crowd who understood that sometimes you just want to drink your face off, or one that didn’t think anything was weird about a glass of noon wine. If you’re like most drinkers, you’ve likely surrounded yourself at some point with a group of people who also drink. I’d argue that many of us gravitated to a group of friends who have drinking habits that align with our own, and we did this because we didn’t want sober friends. Build a marriage where there are zero affairs, addictions, or excessive anger and instead, abounding love and trust.

Rebuilding Takes TIME!

It’s better by far for both of you to each use your energies and intelligence to figure out what YOU could do differently. You can ask questions about our program, the admissions process, and more. I urge affected others to avail themselves of the wealth of good literature and support accessible through 12 step programs like Al-Anon, Nar-Anon, Adult Children of Alcoholics and others. By entering your email and clicking Sign Up, you’re agreeing to let us send you customized marketing messages about us and our advertising partners.

From Our Partner

• The decision to pursue sobriety is major and life-changing, both for the addict and for the spouse.
• I’d bet nine out of 10 of us won’t even answer, and we’ll just laugh because it’s such a ridiculous question.
• He definitely drank more because I drank more,” said Royle.
• Imagine all your efforts, even constructive suggestions, being met with disapproval and objection by your significant other.

At the time, I knew nothing of his substance use disorder. I lived with this conflicted view of the man I loved. I perceived him as an accomplished executive with a relational leadership style appreciated by his colleagues. No matter how long your family has lived https://ecosoberhouse.com/ under the oppression of addiction, there are bound to be residual concerns, issues and feelings. These fears will come up eventually and should be addressed as you work on your marriage. However, some people may have difficulty verbalizing their concerns.

But what many people don’t realize is that even after sobriety, addiction can continue to have a negative impact. Couples therapy is beneficial, especially in a challenging time such as this. Studies show that couples therapy can effectively help couples in distress. It can affect communication and relationship satisfaction, which is essential for recovery. Recovery is an incredibly difficult time and is often accompanied by feelings of shame and depression. Choosing to enter into recovery is a brave decision and staying committed to it takes a lot of dedication.

• Repairing relationships while recovering from substance use disorder can be challenging.
• You may consider individual therapy or a peer-led support program like Al-Anon.
• However, part of taking care of yourself while supporting someone in recovery is to undergo individual therapy.
• Soberlink is a remote alcohol monitoring system that provides documented proof of sobriety, fostering trust and accountability in relationships marred by alcohol misuse.
• If your partner is severely addicted or has failed to get sober in the past, it may be necessary to explore treatment options, like Gratitude Lodge.
• Drunk me didn’t worry if she belonged, or said the right thing, or had to have small talk because drunk me just handled that.
• They offer absurdly named “Night Brunches” for those who want to keep the party going.

Things That Inevitably Happen to Your Personal Life When You Get Sober

• When AUD exists in a marriage, it’s crucial to get on the same page about the treatment and recovery journey, which may require complete abstinence from alcohol.
• That means you will likely play a role in your partner’s treatment.
• With your help, we’ll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can’t find elsewhere.

The Silent Partner: Functional Alcoholism