Author: Alex Thompson

6 Signs Alcohol Is Hurting Your Relationship

Constant conflict or neglect can severely impact children of parents with alcohol addiction. They may experience loneliness, depression, guilt, anxiety, anger issues and an inability to trust others. Alcohol use disorder can lead to lost friendships, estranged marriages and family conflict. Keep reading to learn about the connection between alcohol addiction and relationships and how to prevent or manage relationship issues caused by a drinking problem. If you think alcohol may be affecting your relationships, it might be a good idea to consider speaking with a healthcare or mental health professional.

  1. When you increasingly choose to drink rather than doing previously enjoyed activities with your significant other or friends, you may need to examine your motives for these choices.
  2. Men who drink too much may have trouble getting and maintaining an erection.
  3. Alcohol consumption is a common factor in situations where domestic violence (DV) has occurred.
  4. But this study was limited to couples in sub-Saharan Africa, and more research is needed.

Signs That Alcohol Is Causing Problems In Your Relationship

For instance, a worried husband may voice his concerns when he sees his wife pouring wine after work every day. And when this dynamic is present in your relationship, it can lead to frequent, full-blown arguments about alcohol use. When it comes to how alcohol affects relationships, you might notice more lying or deception from yourself or your spouse. For instance, someone with alcohol addiction might lie to their spouse about where they are (e.g., a bar or friend’s house) because it involves drinking. Or they might hide how much they were drinking, who they were hanging out with, or what they were doing in order to avoid a fight. Or do you feel like you can’t seem to have a single good day anymore, no matter how hard you try?

Addiction Treatment Programs

And when you’re the one with a drinking problem, it can be tough to recognize the harm you’re causing and make a change. Excessive drinking has numerous impacts on your body and mind, ranging from mild to severe. Alcohol can affect our relationships in all sorts of ways and can have a negative impact on our own health and wellbeing and that of those we love. Alcoholism is a family disease and can drastically affect the lives of everyone around you. It can significantly impact your relationships with others and ruin them beyond repair. Also, consider setting boundaries to ensure your own physical and mental health.

It affects every member’s life, attitude, and way of thinking and can lead to significant relationship dysfunction. The reason drinking can become a problem is because of how alcohol affects the brain. There’s also a good chance you’ll feel less anxious, depressed, or fatigued.

Think back to the biggest arguments in your marriage. Were they alcohol-induced?

Alcohol can affect not only your ability to be intimate with your partner but also the way you interact with your partner sexually, according to a 2020 study. Alcohol use, especially when it’s excessive, can put a strain on your relationship with your intimate partner or spouse. Dealing with an alcoholic family member can be a prolonged and exhausting process. Some specialists can help you stage an intervention and find the right treatment for your loved one. This is because people with alcoholism can often become defensive when confronted.

Substance Use Treatment

The good news is that cutting back on your consumption offers far more benefits than the challenges it may present . And just imagine how nice it would be to never have to live through another hangover. Now think how many of them occurred when one or both of you were under the influence of alcohol. Relationships thrive when you can effectively communicate with each other, but it can be hard to do that when you’ve been drinking. This codependency can quickly become toxic, leading to harmful ups and downs for both people involved. Ria Health offers several FDA-approved medications for alcohol use disorder.

Fortunately, there are several ways to address or prevent alcohol problems in your relationship. While shielding your partner from the truth may seem an innocent defense mechanism, it can eventually lead to consistent lies and more and more mistrust in the relationship. Your ability to enjoy alcohol is ultimately predicated on how well you can do so responsibly. And it’s up to you and your partner to decide if and how alcohol can maintain a place in your relationship.

People in relationships often share homes and short- and long-term goals, engage with one another daily, provide emotional, mental, and financial support, and care for one another. When your partner struggles with an alcohol use disorder (AUD), it impacts the entire family unit as well as the day-to-day functioning of the household. The impact of alcohol on relationships is widespread and can affect every single relationship a person is a part of. 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. The connection between alcohol, interpersonal violence and codependency is widely documented.

How to Deal with an Alcoholic Family Member

The survey results showed that people in committed relationships who use alcohol during intimacy were more likely to be sexually aggressive toward their intimate partners. A 2018 study found that alcohol had negative effects on both partners in a relationship for different reasons. Too much drinking can lead to less time spent together—and the time you do spend together can feel less meaningful.

Even when you have a strong connection with your significant other, your feelings can be reduced due to a strong need and desire to drink. For example, if you’ve forgotten important dates due to drinking or canceled plans from a severe hangover, your drinking may be causing relationship problems. If you feel like alcohol has been affecting your relationships, consider reaching out for help so that you can be your best self for the people around you. Participants also cited high levels of conflict and arguing, another significant contributor to divorce, according to research from 2017. Alcohol can greatly increase the chance of aggressive behavior in some people and often plays a role in intimate partner violence. When you’re in a relationship with someone who drinks too much, their behavior can be hard to cope with.