Addiction puts both partners/spouses under a great deal of stress. It disrupts routines and causes worrying or even frightening experiences. As a result, people develop unhealthy coping strategies as they strive to maintain balance in the household. A relationship where one or both partners abuse substances becomes fragile and dysfunctional. It often leads to destructive behaviors and the end of the relationship.
Since substance use disorder affects both partners/spouses, couples therapy is the best solution. It helps to become free from addiction and save the family unit.
Why Addiction Ruins Relationship
Relationships can be complex and hard to maintain even without the presence of addiction. Substance abuse is especially toxic for pairs. That’s why couples drug rehab is recommended for those who want to quit their devastating habit and stay together.
Couples with addiction may experience the following problems:
* Lying and deception
* Lack of trust
* Financial issues
* Domestic violence and abuse
Children who have one or two addictive parents also suffer. In fact, they are under a higher risk for physical, mental, and emotional health problems. These children often experience difficulties in school as they are more likely than their peers to develop a learning disability, skip school or be expelled. And they are four times more likely to start drinking alcohol or taking drugs themselves compared to children of non-addicted parents.
When someone tries to adapt to the dysfunction in the relationship, codependency may occur. It involves neglecting your own needs and desires in favor of taking obsessive care of a loved one’s needs.
When you love a person who abuses substances, your feelings can sometimes impair your judgment. You may try to save your partner but in ways that only enable him/her to keep drinking or using drugs. Enabling behaviors generally include:
* performing responsibilities of the addicted partner;
* minimizing negative effects for the significant other;
* covering up for the partner and making excuses for accidents and poor behavior.
Why You Should Undergo Therapy Together
So, it has come to a point when drug rehab for families seems like the only solution for your relationship problems and your significant partner’s disease. But what is couples therapy and how can it help?
The goal of behavioral couples therapy (BCT) is to recognize and resolve conflicts in a romantic relationship. It helps partners improve communication and achieve mutual understanding.
Often, people think that when they become sober, other problems will fade away. But when they return home after treatment, they are often disappointed and shocked that they continue to argue over the same issues. This can lead to relapse. It’s important to solve the problems in the relationship during recovery.
The latest study (2020) proves that the involvement of significant others in treatment for substance abuse helps to succeed in overcoming addiction and solving substance-related problems. In fact, it contributes to long-term sobriety, as the effect lasts 12-18 months after the end of treatment.
Researchers compared individual therapy for alcohol and drug abuse treatment and BCT. It turned out that BCT leads to better results in sobriety and relationship satisfaction.
The Benefits of Involving Significant Others in Treatment
BCT offered in rehab for couples on drugs is beneficial not only for the person recovering from substance use disorder but for their partner who has also been injured by the effects of this disease. You may expect for 3 major improvements.
Couples counseling helps to recognize dysfunctional behaviors and helps the pairs develop new, healthier coping skills. During 2–20 sessions of BCT, partners acquire the skills of active listening, conflict resolution, and problem-solving. The focus is made on forgiveness and building a new brighter future together. Both partners need to understand that addiction recovery is a lifestyle.
BCT teaches the addict to cope with triggers and urges to use the drug of choice on their own. In the sessions, the therapists and the couple develop a plan for how the person can remain sober. They identify potential hurdles and pick up different techniques of handling them if they happen.
The recovery also comes to the co-dependent and enabling partner. They learn to address their own needs instead of tolerating mistreatment or making unsuccessful attempts to save their partner. It’s vital for the partner who was enabling the addiction to change their attitude. The therapist shows the non-addicted partner how to play a reinforcing role in the sobriety commitment of their partner.
Being in a relationship with a person addicted to alcohol or drugs is difficult. It may be accompanied by episodes of disappointment, dishonesty, and resentment. Treatment in drug rehab for married couples approaches addiction from several sides at once. It helps to heal the damage caused during the period of substance abuse, regain relationship stability, and maintain sobriety. This is your chance. Seek treatment today!
