It can be difficult to face the possibility of an underlying problem when you have known your partner to enjoy a few drinks from time to time, even in your company.
It can be the most difficult challenge you face in a relationship, but it is also a necessary battle, to determine whether your loved one has crossed the line into alcohol abuse. Continue reading to learn about the symptoms of alcoholism and how to deal with a relationship with an alcoholic:
Recognizing Warning Signs
If you think your partner is an alcoholic, there are a few warning signs to look out for. According to Healthline, these symptoms include a strong desire to drink, inability to stop, a high tolerance for alcohol, lying about drinking, and attempting to consume alcohol without others’ knowledge. An infographic on Rehabilitation Centre in Punjab lists specific questions to ask yourself to get a deeper understanding of alcoholism in relationships.
For instance, is your partner’s drinking a problem in your relationship? Is it possible for your partner to leave a drink unfinished? Does he or she frequently pass out when they drink? When you think about your relationship, these are all important things to keep in mind.
When your partner does not have access to alcohol, physical withdrawal symptoms like nausea and trembling become apparent. Additionally, alcoholism has the potential to have devastating effects on mental health. If your partner starts to feel anxious or depressed, it’s probably because of the way he or she drinks.
In point of fact, the findings of the American Psychological Association indicate that there is a direct connection between depression and alcoholism, with the presence of one disorder increases the likelihood of the other. This is bad news for the 18 million Americans who abuse alcohol or are chronic alcoholics because a person’s mental state can have a big impact on their quality of life and how they work and live at home.
Maryville University demonstrates how a bad mental state can have an impact on a person’s career by highlighting newly discovered connections between mental health and the capacity to achieve workplace goals. This is similar to the tendency of an alcoholic to neglect responsibilities in favor of drinking. Key symptoms of this include self-destructive behavior and poor work performance.
Things to keep in mind
Once you’ve noticed these signs, you and your partner need to get help from a professional. Prepare for new issues to arise as you travel the arduous road to recovery. During this time in your relationship, keep these important things in mind:
Be firm with your boundaries
An alcoholic will likely make a lot of promises about what he or she will do, and you should expect your partner to break a few of these promises as they recover. While it may be tempting to give in to their repeated apologies and assurances that they will never drink too much again, setting firm boundaries will ultimately benefit both you and your partner. Draw a line and respect it, whether it’s not letting them around you when they’re drunk or kicking them out if they endanger you or someone else.
Don’t get tricked into arguing
Don’t fall for the lie that alcoholism can be justified by illogical justifications. Your partner’s argumentative and manipulative side may emerge when they see that you are actively pushing them to change. Don’t fall for the trick of arguing with them in this situation; doing so will only make you more annoyed and frustrated. When they try to lure you into these fights, opt to walk away and completely silence them. Most importantly, learn to recognize both emotional and physical abuse and to immediately seek assistance when it occurs.
You can’t fix your partner
It’s common for the non-alcoholic partner to feel guilty or responsible for the alcoholic’s actions. After all, if their condition does not improve or worsen, you must be doing something wrong. When you notice that you are having these thoughts, do your best to get yourself to stop placing blame on yourself. Keep in mind that your partner’s drinking and behavior are not your faults. Regardless of what others do or say, alcoholics will continue to drink, and it is not your responsibility to prevent or control these behaviors.
Refrain from becoming an enabler
Despite the fact that you cannot end your partner’s abuse, refusing to be an enabler is essential to their recovery. Enabling is not the same as loving or caring. After another night of heavy drinking, for instance, driving them home and putting them to bed prevents them from facing the consequences of their actions. By allowing your partner to feel all of the pain that their alcoholism causes, rather than just accepting all of the pain yourself out of a twisted version of love, you can avoid becoming an enabler at Nasha Mukti Kendra in Ludhiana.
Overall, being in a relationship with an alcoholic partner is a unique and challenging situation that can cause mental and physical harm to both parties. If you find yourself in this predicament, it can be tempting to believe there is no way out or an end to the abuse. However, keep in mind that the opposite is true.
You are free to prioritize yourself, your children, and your loved ones, and you are under no obligation to stay with or help an alcoholic partner. You can successfully end a relationship with an alcoholic by seeking support from family, friends, and professionals. Hold onto the fact that the hard part is over and that the real healing can now begin when your own painful recovery begins.
