From intimacy problems and lack of emotional availability to the financial burden and negative effects on children, alcohol use disorder can affect partners, their children and other family members. Individuals addicted to alcohol have great difficulty maintaining healthy relationships. The emotional intimacy inherent in important relationships is always at risk, especially as it pertains to trust and commitment. People struggling with alcoholism will do anything to maintain their addiction, even if it means lying or stealing from their loved ones.

Treatment may include medication like naltrexone to help curb your cravings for alcohol and help you drink less or stop drinking entirely. Marriages and long-term committed partnerships are at higher risk of breaking up when alcohol is a problem in the relationship—especially when one partner has an alcohol misuse problem and the other doesn’t. 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.

How to Deal with an Alcoholic Family Member

If one partner is drinking heavily it can cause a lot of stress and conflict that can lead to depression or anxiety. This can be especially hard if the other partner is trying to get their loved one to stop drinking, as they how does alcohol affect relationships may feel helpless in the situation. The drinking partner may engage in highly provocative or aggressive behavior without thinking about the consequences of his or her actions because of alcohol’s effects on risk-taking.

Infidelity, financial concerns, job loss,
medical concerns, and reduced sexual intimacy are other consequences that may
result. Alcohol abuse is extremely common and many people struggle with alcohol addiction. When discussing how alcohol addiction affects a person we often think of the impact on the physical and even mental health of the individual suffering from addiction. However, addiction is a disease that affects the entire family as well as any other relationships that could be affected. The important point here is substance abuse by a partner causes damage to the marriage or relationship, and these problems need to be treated, too. As previously indicated, the relationship and the issues within it need to be thoroughly addressed – if they aren’t, then conflict will continue, and the likelihood of a relapse increases.

Work-Life Balance Books to Help You Take Control of Life

The majority of people are acutely aware of the long-term and very damaging effects alcoholism has on the body, but not many know that just as much damage can be done to relationships as well. The fact that alcoholism has a simultaneous destructive effect on physical and mental health and (committed and intimate) relationships is what makes it so different from other chronic health conditions. When your drinking causes blackouts, memory loss or sickness, it can significantly impact intimate activities. Drinking can take away the time and desire for sex and even lead to sexual dysfunction. Alcohol use disorder can lead to lost friendships, estranged marriages and family conflict.

When alcohol has become a core part of our relationships, it can stand in the way of us taking action to change our own drinking habits, even when they aren’t making us happy. Similarly, we can be affected by the drinking of our partner, friend or loved one, causing tension and disagreement, or leading us to drink more. Hiding your drinking from a loved one is a common sign that your habits have become unhealthy. One example of this is if you claim to be partaking in certain activities, like working overtime or meeting friends, instead of sharing that you stopped at the bar on the way home. Being dishonest with your partner can fuel a sense of distrust, and lead to other unhealthy habits in your relationship.

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