Every healthy marriage is built on a foundation of love, trust, and commitment, but when addiction enters the picture, it can have profound and often devastating effects on this foundation. In this article, we’ll explore how addiction can impact your marriage, from stability and financial problems to isolation and trust issues—as well as tips on how spouses can spot the signs of addiction.

How Addiction Can Hurt Your Marriage

Loss Of Stability
Financial Problems
Isolation & Social Withdrawal
Trust Issues
Physical & Emotional Danger

Dealing With Unpredictable Moods

Addiction destabilizes the foundation of a marriage. Spouses of addicts often find themselves in a constant state of uncertainty. The unpredictability of their partner’s behavior, moods, and actions can lead to emotional turmoil and make it challenging to maintain a stable family environment.

Struggling With Money

Chronic drug use can drain financial resources at an alarming rate. Money for bills, savings, or family needs may be diverted to fuel the addiction. This financial strain may lead to arguments, unpaid bills, and even bankruptcy, so it’s important to nip addiction in the bud ASAP.

Distance From Friends & Family

Addiction tends to isolate both the substance user and their spouse. The shame, secrecy, and fear of judgment can lead couples to withdraw from social circles and family gatherings. This isolation can intensify feelings of loneliness and despair for both partners.

Consistent Lying

For those struggling with it, addiction erodes self-trust, as well as those around them. Repeated broken promises, lies, and deceit can erode the trust in a marriage, and rebuilding this trust can be an arduous process, requiring significant time and effort from both parties.

Abuse & Violence

In some cases, chronic alcohol abuse or drug use can escalate to verbal or even physical abuse. As the spouse of an addict, it can be very difficult not to justify your partner’s behaviors. However, please understand that domestic violence is never okay, and being drunk or high does not excuse these behaviors. If your partner has become verbally or physically abusive as a result of their substance use, your number one priority needs to be to get yourself and any children or pets out of the house and to a safe location immediately!

Signs Of Addiction In Marriage

You’ve noticed sudden and unexpected shifts in your spouse’s mood, habits, friend groups, and interests.
Your spouse frequently lies, is secretive, or hides their possessions and whereabouts.
There’s a pattern of mysterious or unexplained financial losses.
Your partner is struggling to fulfill family, career, and household obligations.
You’ve spotted changes in their appearance, unintentional weight loss, and frequent illness.
Your spouse avoids social events and withdraws from friends and family.
Your loved one cannot stop their drug or alcohol use, or they have withdrawal symptoms when they try to quit.
You’ve noticed that your spouse needs more and more alcohol or drugs to achieve the same effects as before.

Encourage Your Spouse To Seek Help

Please note that the signs listed above are not definitive proof that your spouse is an addict—they can also be symptoms of untreated mental or physical illnesses, which can occur with or without substance use.

However, if addiction is indeed the root issue here, it’s important to encourage your beloved to seek help by gently and non-confrontationally reminding them that their addiction impacts not only themselves but also their loved ones. By taking that brave first step of seeking help, you can both start the process of healing your marriage and rebuilding a brighter future together.

Detox Is The All-Important First Step

Once they are ready to get help, Nexstep Medical Detox offers a safe, comfortable environment for your beloved to begin their journey to sobriety. We not only provide 24/7 nursing care during the detox process but will also get your spouse in touch with rehab programs or outpatient counseling before their discharge.

Finding Long-Term Support After Detoxing

If substance use is indeed the issue, you and your spouse will likely both need counseling to address the impact of addiction on yourselves and the marriage. If you have kids, they might also benefit from individual or family therapy sessions, as growing up with an addicted parent can be traumatizing even in the absence of domestic violence.

How Can Post-Detox Therapy Help?

Therapy provides a safe space for each partner to express their feelings, fears, and frustrations.
Counseling helps spouses understand the nature of addiction, reducing feelings of blame and guilt.
Therapy can teach effective communication skills, essential for repairing a damaged relationship.
A counselor can help you establish and communicate healthy boundaries and expectations with your spouse.
Individual therapy can help you resolve repressed anger and resentment that can come along with being an addict spouse.
Family therapy can help your children understand what’s going on, promoting healing and understanding across the board.
Learning how to spot the signs and prevent relapse is crucial for both partners’ peace of mind and the stability of the marriage.

Finding Recovery Support In Utah

Addiction can have a profound impact on a marriage, affecting stability, finances, trust, and emotional well-being. Recognizing the signs of dependency, safely detoxing from the substance, and seeking outpatient counseling are crucial steps toward healing and rebuilding the relationship. If you or your spouse is struggling with addiction, don’t hesitate to seek help and consider Nexstep Medical Detox for a safe and supportive recovery journey.