How Substance Abuse Can Strain A Couple’s Relationship

Couples often visualize a journey of love and a shared journey, but when addiction enters the picture, this pathway takes a dangerous turn. Alcohol and drug addiction can inflict chaos in all aspects of the couple’s life.

While inpatient rehab centers offer hope for couples seeking to heal, navigating the path overloaded with emotional turmoil and broken trust is challenging. There is a list of detrimental effects inflicted by substance abuse on the couple’s relationship. However, they can potentially rebuild a healthy connection through support and understanding.

How Substance Abuse Strains Relationship

Financial Strain

Broken promises due to substance use erode trust, which is essential in any healthy relationship. The priorities of the addicted partner shift with substance taking centre stage. It leads to neglect and emotional withdrawal. Financial strain is a constant battleground, with funds diverted into supporting addiction, leaving financial responsibility solely on the non-addicted partner. The emotional toil is filled with inescapable anger, bitterness, and loneliness.

Lack Of Communication

Communication is vital for any relationship. Due to addiction, there is poor communication with a fear of conflicts. It is the non-addicted partner who walks away to avoid confrontation. The addicted partner under the influence displays emotional or aggressive volatility, hindering open and honest communication—both physical and passionate intimacy decline due to the physical and emotional toll of addiction.

Shift Of Responsibility

The non-addicted partner is left with the heavy burden of responsibility. They will ignore their partner’s addiction and take excessive responsibility for neglecting their own needs. The addiction is enabled, which will prevent the user from seeking help and break free from substance abuse.

The addiction landscape is miserable, but there is hope!

The non-addicted partner can approach friends, family or therapy groups for intervention. Learning how to set healthy boundaries and prioritize their well-being is crucial.

If the addicted partner is eager to accept help, then couples therapy is excellent for healing. The therapist helps couples to address the leading cause of addiction, learn ways to communicate healthily and regain trust. The journey is hard and long, but couples rehab centres offer intensive programs aimed at lasting recovery.

The success of a relationship associated with addiction will depend on the addicted partner’s willingness to seek help and the non-addicted partner’s ability to provide a robust support system.