Is My Spouse an Alcoholic

Although alcoholism or alcohol abuse can affect everyone, it can be especially challenging for the spouses of men or women who battle this disease. Often they experience psycho-emotional, physical, and social trauma related to their partner’s problematic drinking. Research has indicated that substance abuse might co-exist in as many as 40-60 percent of all domestic abuse.

If your husband or wife is struggling with alcohol addiction, it’s essential to understand how to best approach the topic of treatment, to learn more about what professional addiction treatment involves, and to identify what steps you should take to keep you and your family safe should the situation turn hostile or violent. Alcoholism is a complex yet very treatable disease that can be managed through intensive, inpatient detox programs to help individuals regain control of their well-being and begin to sustain a life of sobriety.

 

Am I Married to an Alcoholic Husband or Wife?

People who can no longer control their alcohol use experience emotional distress when they are not drinking or compulsively abuse it despite adverse consequences may suffer from a substance abuse disorder

  • Being unable to reduce alcohol use despite a desire and multiple attempts to do so
  • Drinking alcohol in higher amounts or for a more prolonged period than initially intended
  • Spending significant time obtaining, using, and recovering from alcohol’s effects
  • Cravings or strong urges to consume alcohol
  • The development of tolerance, such as needing to drink increasingly large or more frequent amounts of alcohol to achieve the sought-after effects
  • Using alcohol in dangerous situations, such as driving or operating machinery
  • Being unable to fulfill significant obligations at home, work, or school because of alcohol use
  • Continuing to abuse alcohol despite adverse consequences or social problems that are likely due to alcohol consumption
  • Giving up previously enjoyed or important social, occupational, or recreational activities in favor of alcohol use
  • Continuing to abuse alcohol despite a psychological or physical problem due to alcohol use.
  • Developing withdrawal symptoms when attempts are made to stop using alcohol

 

It takes courage to be able to get sober and seek help for alcoholism. However, people who are addicted to alcohol are often resistant to exploring recovery options or acknowledging that they have a problem in the first place. If your partner is still refusing to seek help, it may be time to stage an intervention.

A health professional, substance abuse counselor, or prevention specialist, as well as loved ones, may be involved in an intervention. During an intervention, the focus would be on informing the participants that his addiction is affecting them and urging him to seek clinical support.

Participants in an invention will also be expected to provide detailed examples ahead of time, provide a pre-arranged therapy program, and provide results if he continues to seek assistance. You must be prepared to carry out the repercussions outlined, regardless of whether he initially agrees to treatment.

 

Other ways to plan for a conversation with a partner include:

  1. Talk with him only when he is sober and open to what you have to say. To get your point across, you may need to have many short, truthful, and straightforward conversations.
  2. Become knowledgeable about the disease of alcoholism and treatment services available in your area.
  3. Talk to a alcohol detox center counselor, therapist, or support group about getting help for yourself.
  4. Seek professional help right away if you ever feel physically or emotionally unsafe in your home when your husband is under the influence of alcohol. Do not attempt to solve the problem on your own.
  5. Don’t take his inebriation personally; it’s not your fault.
  6. Maintain the family routine throughout his or her actions in order to maintain a sense of normalcy and balance at home.

 

Getting Professional Treatment

Recovery is often a lifelong process that certainly does not end once treatment is completed. But with the proper approach to rehab, a solid support network, and aftercare services, you, your spouse, and your family can go on to live healthier, more fulfilling lives.

NPAC alcohol detox center offers individualized, multifaceted, long-term residential treatment programs for alcohol and drug addiction

Begin the first day of the rest of your life

To find out more contact our team

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Kim L. Buckner

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As a Substance Abuse Motivational Speaker, Pastor, Peer Advocate, and Facilitator. Kim helps clients avoid relapse by understanding their triggers. Those people, places and things that can cause craving, as well as internal triggers like feelings, thoughts, or emotions. Kim also clients with identifying and building healthy relationships now that they’re clean and sober.

Kim’s background includes extensive experience as a motivational speaker and work in faith-based organizations helping youth and adults alike. He says he is motivated by giving back to the community, understanding, and not judging who she comes into contact with. Kim’s favorite quote is by Dr. Raymond Johnson: “The respect given to others rebounds to the giver to deny the scared in the Other is to deny it in oneself.”

Caty Burns

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Caty graduated from Indiana University Bloomington in 2015 with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and minors in Counseling and History. Throughout her undergrad, she worked at the local CASA program, supporting volunteers advocating for children who had experienced abuse and neglect. Caty worked for seven years at a community mental health center (CMHC), partnering with children, adults, and families.

During those seven years, she taught life and coping skills as well as behavior management, provided case management and peer recovery services, and facilitated treatment teams that included the client, family, providers, and community members. I have also worked at an IOP providing group therapy services. She is currently working towards my Master of Social Work.

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Madison Knowles

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Ronn Daigle, MSW

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Ronn additionally earned a Master of Social Work degree in 2021 and is a current Registered Clinical Social Work Intern working toward licensure (LCSW). He describes himself as detail oriented, and solution focused.

Ronn says: “There is nothing more fulfilling than working with someone who doesn’t believe in himself or herself, and being there in the moment with them when the belief begins. We work with individuals who come to us at a point and time in their respective lives where they do not believe that change for others is possible; let alone for themselves…throughout the process they eventually come to a point where they realize that change is not only possible, but achievable.”

Erika Melecio, LMHC, MCAP, CEI

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Erika Melecio, LMHC, MCAP, CEI is the Assistant Clinical Director at Neuropsychiatric Addiction Clinic who specializes in the treatment of LGBTQ, addiction, as well as mental health disorders ranging from depression and anxiety, to Bipolar Disorder, trauma, personality disorders, psychotic disorders, and eating disorders. Erika utilizes a number of modalities including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Solution Focused Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, and Mindfulness amongst others. Erika has been in practice for close to a decade and has earned her license in Mental Health Counseling, as well as being a Master’s Certified Addiction Professional. Erika has worked with many individuals including couples counseling and family therapy, and is fluent in Spanish.
 
Throughout my years of practice, one of the things I enjoy helping people find is inner peace. Whether you are in the deepest parts of depression, overrun by your anxiety, controlled by your addiction, or there are certain issues in your life that are negatively impacting your ability to function, and have a happy, healthy life, maybe now is the time to talk about it. I am a big believer in empowerment, working hard in therapy, and utilizing different techniques to help you regain that inner peace that may have been lost along the way. I want to work with you as a team because with two people, absolutely everything is possible. I want to be there as a therapist, to help build you up, support you, but also help you be honest with yourself and accountable. At the end of the day, when all is said and done, my biggest goal for you is going to be simple….for you to no longer need my services. Why? Because if you no longer need my services, it means that you have regained your peace, you have regained your strength, you have regained your confidence. It means that you now have the tools to address any issues that try to derail you, and best of all, you will have the insight to overcome and thrive. So let’s begin this journey together, and get you to the place you want to be, emotionally, mentally, psychologically, and in your sobriety.

Aurelio Ayuso, MSW, LCSW, CAP, ICADC

Clinical Director

Aurelio has worked with those that suffer from the disease of addiction in adults and juveniles alike for over 10 years, beginning in the United States Navy where he proudly served for 20 years, working with those that were succumbed by addiction due to trauma and continuing his passion for helping those in need locally in Central Florida.

He specializes in both Addictions and Trauma, he has worked first as a therapist then as the clinical supervisor to both the Juvenile and Adult Drug Court programs in Brevard County. Aurelio has been instrumental in developing substance abuse treatment programs directly tailored to help those that also suffer from complex trauma due to their addiction. He has been recognized by several organizations for his forward thinking and ability to tailor treatment to individuals in the most restrictive environments.

Mr. Ayuso received his Graduate Degree in Clinical Social Work from the University of Central Florida in Orlando. He is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker as well as Certified Addictions Professional in the State of Florida, and Internationally Certified Alcohol & Drug Counselor. Aurelio specializes in the treatment of Addiction, Trauma, and Abandonment using strength based strategies deeply rooted in Solution Focused, and Mindfulness Therapies. At the Neuropsychiatric Addiction Clinic he passionately develops holistic curriculums that foster the belief that through addressing the mind, body, and spirit together, the Disease of Addiction can be addressed successfully.

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He also completed 24 months of acute inpatient psychiatry at the Western Missouri Mental Health Center, University of Missouri in Kansas City. In 2008, Dr. Toledo participated in and was certified in the continuing medical education activity entitled “Buprenorphine and Office-Based Treatment of Opioid Dependence” from The Medical University of South Carolina during which began his quest to found and head Neuropsychiatric Addiction Clinic.

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