When A Spouse Becomes Addicted
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Marriage is a promise, full of vows and solemn oaths to stand by one another, love one another, and protect one another, until death do you part. What about until addiction do you part? Mistakenly, many people get married to someone who they think will be for the rest of their lives. People change. Life happens. People change in response to life. It doesn’t always happen glamorously. In fact it can often happen tumultuously, especially when addiction is involved.
Addiction in a marriage is rarely a well kept secret. Spending countless hours with a spouse in the same living quarters leads one to get to know the other quite well. The signs of addiction aren’t hard to miss when it comes to your spouse. Behavioral changes, attitude changes, emotional changes, and changes in health, wellness, as well as appearance are all obvious. Getting into arguments about an addiction will likely drive the addiction further. If you are concerned your spouse has an addiction and it is harming your marriage, there are steps for you to take.
Research The Symptoms Of Addiction. If You See Them, Take Action Immediately.
Marriages go through ups and downs. People go through ups and downs as well. It is all too easy to write off concerning symptoms of addiction as stress, going through a hard time, difficulty transitioning, or any other excuse. Research the specific signs and symptoms of addiction, particularly for a drug of choice you think your spouse might be abusing. If you notice any of the symptoms happening frequently, it is important to take action as soon as possible.
Consider Finances And Make A Call.
Finances might be an issue for you and your spouse. If money is not an object, there are a few things to consider:
- Do you want your spouse to stay home near their environment, which might be triggering and contributing to their addiction or do you want them to go away for treatment?
- Do they need detox in addition to residential treatment?
- Are they able to take months off of work and/or responsibilities in the family to go to long term treatment, which is proven to have the best results?
- Are there co-occurring mental health disorders which will require specialized treatment programs?
If money is a concern, the best place to start is by placing a call to a family insurance provider to get an understanding of behavioral health benefits available as well as a list of covered providers. Many treatment centers offer payment plans for long term financing.
Remember, that recovery can last a lifetime, as is the promise of your marriage. Addiction is always a threat to life. There is hope in recovery. Your loved one is worth it.
For information on the long term residential treatment programs and marriage therapy at Design For Change, call us today at (877) 267-3646.
