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

A friend or does alcohol cause gallstones partner may constantly hear reasons for being late, disappearing or mood swings. But this study was limited to couples in sub-Saharan Africa, and more research is needed. A 2018 study found that alcohol had negative effects on both partners in a relationship for different reasons. Treatment may include medication like naltrexone to help curb your cravings for alcohol and help you drink less or stop drinking entirely. Whether one partner drinks too much or both partners do, alcohol problems can lead to increased arguments, hurt feelings, and emotional distance in a relationship.

But drinking too much can also take a toll on your friendships, family relationships, and even how you interact with your colleagues at work. If your relationship involves heavy drinking and your sex life is suffering, alcohol may be to blame. While it’s true that alcohol can increase sexual desire in the short term, it can harm a person’s sex drive in the long run. This is because it can adversely affect your hormones, emotional well-being, and overall health.

You Become a Different Person When You Drink

1. While it’s true that alcohol can increase sexual desire in the short term, it can harm a person’s sex drive in the long run.
2. When your drinking causes blackouts, memory loss or sickness, it can significantly impact intimate activities.
3. If so, it may be time to consider how alcohol is impacting your relationship.
4. If excess drinking continues to progress, you risk moving to severe alcohol use disorder, which can lead to alcohol dependence or alcoholism.
5. Ria Health is one online program offering comprehensive help—from coaching meetings to anti-craving prescriptions—100 percent from your smartphone.
6. People who are clinically alcohol dependent can die if they suddenly, completely stop drinking.

It’s increasingly common for someone to be diagnosed with a condition such as ADHD or autism as an adult. A diagnosis often brings relief, but it can also come with as many questions as answers. Now think how many of them occurred when one or both of you were under the influence of alcohol. Changes in your personality can cause you to interact differently with the people around you — and not always for the better. Alcohol’s ability to lower inhibitions and impair judgment are known to contribute to the possibility of a person cheating on their partner (4).

Your partner’s alcohol use can damage these aspects and cause you to lose trust in the relationship. Being in a relationship with someone with alcohol use disorder can be challenging. Your husband may pick fights with you when he drinks or you’re no longer as intimate as you were before. You may feel like alcohol has ruined your relationship or is the cause of your divorce. The additional responsibilities can contribute to increased stress, leading to behavioral, physical, and mental health problems.

Alcohol use, especially when it’s excessive, can put a strain on your relationship with your intimate partner or spouse. All of these factors make it much more likely you’ll engage in activities that cause conflict within relationships. Utilizing these strategies and seeking proper treatment for AUD can improve the lives of all involved and lead to a stronger, healthier relationship in the future. Unfortunately, studies consistently demonstrate that, regardless of the sex of the partner with AUD, if at least one person in the relationship has an AUD, the risk of DV is high. There’s also a good chance you’ll feel less anxious, depressed, or fatigued. Plus, the longer you go without alcohol in your system, group activities for recovering addicts the more likely you’ll experience continued improvements to your health.

Addiction Destroys Dreams, We Can Help

Keep reading to learn about the connection between alcohol addiction and relationships and how to prevent or manage relationship issues caused by a drinking problem. Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a common addiction, affecting nearly 15 million adults in the United States. While alcohol dependence can be devastating to one’s health, it can also impact a person’s relationships, including the most meaningful people in their life.

Signs Your Partner Struggles with Alcohol Use

If you feel like alcohol has been affecting your relationships, consider reaching out for help so that you can be your best self for the people around you. Participants also cited high levels of conflict and arguing, another significant contributor to divorce, according to research from 2017. Because alcohol heightens emotions and makes it harder to read emotional cues from others, it’s more likely that drinking will magnify feelings of jealousy. Nearly a third of U.S. adults have a period of problem drinking at some point during their lives (1). The negative effects of heavy alcohol use typically aren’t limited to just the person drinking.

Constant conflict or neglect can severely impact children of parents with alcohol addiction. They may experience loneliness, depression, guilt, anxiety, anger issues and an inability to trust others. Getting help for alcohol addiction will not only improve your relationships, it can also start you on your path toward a healthier, addiction-free future. Or do you feel like you can’t seem to have a single good day how to get someone fired anymore, no matter how hard you try?

The more you know about it, the better equipped you are to talk to your partner and manage your expectations regarding their addiction. Trust is essential for a healthy and functioning relationship and can be challenging to repair once damaged. Constant dishonesty can lead to sadness and resentment between partners. If you’re not sure how much alcohol is too much, consider following the recommended Dietary Guidelines for Americans of 1 drink or less in a day for women and 2 drinks or less in a day for men. A 2013 study found that of the 52 people who participated, over 34 of them (that’s more than 60%) noted that substance use was a factor for separation. This was especially true in cases where the partner refused to acknowledge an issue or get help.

Too much drinking can lead to less time spent together—and the time you do spend together can feel less meaningful. For example, someone who drinks a lot might miss out on time with their spouse because they’d rather be at a bar or party. And when they’re home, they might choose to drink instead of being present with their loved ones. That said, it’s important to note that not all problem drinkers are alcoholics. In general, someone who is a “problem drinker” doesn’t necessarily need medical treatment, intervention, or peer group support to quit. For men, moderate drinking is defined as consuming up to two drinks per day, and for women, it’s up to one drink per day.