It’s no secret: married couples often experience disagreements, infidelity, financial strain, and, sometimes, tragedy. They can fail to be on the same page or feel like they’re falling out of love. Many factors can influence a divorce. However, research shows that alcoholism can be one of the driving factors behind a marital split.
Many of the individuals who seek residential treatment for drug addiction with us in Port Matilda have marriages, families, and jobs. We often see marriages in bad shape, with partners fighting to survive under the enormous pressure of addiction dynamics. That’s why we offer therapy at the individual, group, family, and marital levels. Working through a partner’s addiction is hard, but with communication and hope, marriages can heal.
How Much Does Addiction Cost a Marriage?
The answer depends on the couple and their financial, familial, and emotional situation. If children are present, if the financial situation is difficult, or if both partners suffer from mental health issues, addiction may cost a marriage too much. Whether a marriage survives can boil down to the foundation of the relationship: is the couple together because they’re emotionally codependent, or do they have the capacity to mutually enrich each other’s lives with healthy boundaries in place?
From a psychological perspective, one of the experts at the American Association For Marriage and Family Therapy explains that drug or alcohol abuse almost always negatively impacts partnerships and their well-being.
One hefty price that marriages can pay for addiction comes in the form of shortened quality time. Substance addiction can suck up the crucial time that couples need to spend together to build, maintain, and deepen intimacy and bonding. This lack of time can then snowball into emotional distance and, at times, mistrust.
Addiction can also tax a marriage with frequent arguments, overspending on substances, and added stress. In the end, how much you’re willing to pay for your partner’s addiction—or how much they’re willing to pay for yours—is dependent on various factors. Some of them are within your control. Others aren’t. The important thing to remember is that whether or not your spouse chooses to remain by your side throughout your recovery, your sobriety should not rest on their shoulders. Each person’s recovery is their own responsibility.
When Does Addiction Cause Divorce?
Divorce or marital separation can occur at any time for you or your spouse regardless of substance abuse. That being said, there are several breaking points that couples often reach when one partner has severe SUD:
- When illness or domestic violence results from addiction
- When the family’s psychological, cognitive, or interpersonal functioning greatly diminishes
- When children start to have issues at school, appear overly stressed, or are experiencing behavioral problems
- When legal and financial consequences have become so unbearable or overwhelming that you and your family unit can no longer balance life’s responsibilities
These consequences can often trigger a divorce. The feelings of bitterness, broken trust, or fear that such consequences cause may be too great to save the bond. Additionally, a spouse may opt for divorce because they know they will be unable or unwilling to support their partner through recovery.
Seek Help For Addiction in Port Matilda, PA With St. Joseph
Although it can be heartbreaking to accept that your partner can no longer support you, sobriety is still possible and worthwhile in the long run. And the best chance you have to rebuild relationships comes with your commitment to recovery. We’re here to support individuals, families, and partners as they find their footing in sobriety with tools and resources that allow for healing and growth. Contact us today to learn more.
