Alcohol abuse is unsafe for everyone – the person who binge drinks regularly, their family members and strangers who happen to cross their path while the drinker is under the influence. If your spouse abuses alcohol, it can cause you a great deal of stress. Not only are you worried about your spouse’s health but you are also concerned for your children and, in some cases, you may even be concerned for your own physical safety in addition to your emotional health.
Important note: If you or your children are the victims of domestic violence at the hand of a spouse who abuses alcohol or other drugs, seek a safe place and protection immediately. Prioritize your safety and that of your children above all else. Only then will you be in a position to help your spouse deal with his or her alcohol abuse effectively
Domestic Violence
In more than half of all domestic violence incidents reported to police, the abusing partner is under the influence of alcohol at the time of the event. If you are living with a spouse who gets violent when drinking, you likely spend a good deal of your life living in fear. Even when physical violence isn’t the result of a drinking binge, it’s likely that emotional and verbal abuse is. It’s not easy to be berated on a regular basis or belittled. Your self-esteem and ability to care for yourself can begin to fade over time and any conviction you hold about extricating yourself from the situation wavers under constant abuse. If your children are also victims of your spouse’s drinking or a witness to his or her treatment of you, a whole host of other problems can develop, causing them and you to deal with psychological issues that last a lifetime.
Family Issues
There are a number of areas of your family’s life that are likely disrupted by your spouse’s ongoing abuse of alcohol. Some include:
- Financial issues. Alcohol isn’t cheap, especially when your spouse is drinking regularly. When the dip into the family finances is exacerbated by less coming in because your spouse isn’t working as much or loses his or her job, it can be extremely difficult to hold together a monthly budget. Even when alcohol abuse isn’t an issue in a family, financial issues can be insurmountable obstacles in many marriages.
- Difficulties at family events. When your spouse is under the influence of alcohol, his or her behavior can change dramatically. Many husbands and wives are embarrassed by their spouses at family functions when too much alcohol is consumed. It can lead to isolation and problems with other family members – not a good place to be.
- Lying to cover for your spouse. When your spouse’s bad behavior affects your family, their job, your job, your relationship with neighbors and the children’s experience, you are often put in the position of having to lie to cover.
If you find that the above problems are hurting you and your family, it’s time to address the situation. Stage an intervention for your spouse and help them to get the alcohol abuse help that they need to get their life – and yours – back on track. Call Michael’s House today.
