Drug And Alcohol Addiction Makes Marriage Miserable
Marriage is both wonderful and challenging under the best of circumstances. A drug or alcohol addiction can derail a marriage right off its tracks. Addiction is so slippery, so sly, it can fool both the addicted person into believing they don’t have a problem. Drug rehab may be the best opportunity to get a derailed marriage back on track.
For Better or For Worse Includes Facing Drug Addiction
There’s no question – a solid marriage is built on trust and integrity. Of course, there is romance, passion, and fun as well. But when the tough times come (and they always do), you really need to know you have someone by your side that you can count on. For better or for worse.
What if you and your spouse don’t agree on the “worse” part that’s happening? You stay out late several times a week drinking at friends’ houses, you drive drunk, you get a hangover and drink again in the morning. You’re just blowing off steam, you can’t relax at home, and what’s the big deal anyway? You’re the fun one, you’re spouse is just a stick in the mud.
Drug Addiction Ruins Trust and Integrity
Meanwhile, you’re spouse is wondering why you don’t stick around for dinner anymore. They’re wondering if the kids are just starting to get used to you being either drunk, high, or just plain gone. They’re wondering why they are alone most nights of the week. They’re wondering why they feel so lonely, so angry, so confused about their marriage. To them, everything is falling apart.
Your spouse had trust that the marriage and family came before social obligation. They believe the integrity of what they see before their eyes, not empty words. When a marriage is rocked by drug addiction, the addiction becomes front-and-center. Trust and integrity get traded in for deceit and excuses. When someone protects their addiction more fervently than their family, marriages often disintegrate.
How long can the non-addicted spouse hold the candle of hope? The reactions and adjustments they make to cope with their spouse’s addiction can be damaging to the relationship as well. And if the marriage was a poor match in the first place, the addiction may dramatically expose this.
When Both Spouses Need Drug Treatment
Quite possibly the most fragile marriages touched by addiction are those with both spouses needing drug treatment. It’s bad enough when one person in a marriage is overtaken by drugs or alcohol. When both have an addiction, the problems are greatly magnified.
1 -The marriage could fail if both stay addicted. Both people can easily be driven apart by the continuous lack of intimacy, honesty, and self-awareness.
2- The marriage could fail if one gets drug treatment. Healthy people tend to not find unhealthy people very easy to be around for long.
3 – The marriage could fail if both get drug treatment. Two healthy people may realize they were brought together by unhealthy habits, ways of thinking, behavior, beliefs, etc. They may decide they have little in common after drug treatment.
However, if a marriage has strong roots, even couples with two addicted people can have a complete turnaround. They may both strengthen their connection with a higher power. They may recommit themselves to their families.. They may even join together to provide hope and help for other families affected by addiction.
Drug Rehab Gives Hope To Hurt Marriages
Drug rehab is not a miracle cure for drug addiction. But it can be the first major step for addiction recovery and healing a wounded marriage. Coming home sober from drug treatment is a good place to start.