The Physical and Mental Benefits of Quitting Alcohol
Quitting alcohol won’t just protect your physical health—it can also improve your mental well-being. Studies have also connected alcohol use to an increased risk of stroke, especially for people under the age of 45 years old. Excessive drinking can lead to the build-up of toxic, highly cancer-causing (carcinogenic) compounds that contribute to inflammation in your body, especially in your liver. As alcohol is broken down and metabolized by your body, toxins get released. Some will eventually get broken down into less harmful compounds, but your body’s ability to process these substances is limited. If you’re having difficulty sticking to your goal or just want some extra guidance, consider reaching out for professional support.
Examine alcohol health effects
Letting others know about your choice to stop drinking may help motivate you to stick with your decision. Effective budgeting, understanding insurance details, and exploring additional financial resources are essential for minimizing the financial burden of inpatient rehab. Encourage your boyfriend to seek professional help, such as therapy or counseling, or to attend support groups like Alcoholics Anonymous. You can offer to go with him to his first appointment or meeting if he feels more comfortable having someone there for support. The chances are that you are also putting a great deal of time and effort into trying to help your spouse get better, but sometimes you may feel hopeless. Living with an alcoholic spouse can be frustrating, difficult, and even frightening.
Different Types of Treatment for Alcoholism
It’s common for someone with AUD to try to blame their drinking on circumstances or others around them, including those who are closest to them. It’s common to hear them say, “The only reason I drink is because you…” There is, unfortunately, no “right” way to break up with an alcoholic.
How alcohol addiction can affect a household
But, as with drug addiction, an addiction to alcohol is considered a chronic, or long-term, disease. More than likely, your loved one knows the dangers of AUD, but their addiction is so powerful that they have a leaving an alcoholic hard time controlling it. In these moments he feels like a different person — quick to temper and to escalate an argument. I’m struggling with a partner who has displayed and admitted to alcoholic tendencies.
- By avoiding alcohol, you’re taking a big step toward improving physical health.
- When you do get sick, you’ll probably feel like you recover more easily when you’re sober.
- You might be on the receiving end of verbal aggression – harsh words, criticisms, or humiliating comments, especially during times of heavy drinking.
- Encourage your partner to seek treatment if they’re ready, but also recognize that their journey is their own and they may need space or time before they’re ready to make changes.
- If your spouse has this condition, he or she will display some of the following warning signs.
- Regular drinking raises estrogen levels and reduces testosterone.
- This might mean talking to a therapist or counselor, joining a support group, or confiding in a trusted friend or family member.
How To Tell If You Need Medical Alcohol Detox
If coverage is denied, appeal with comprehensive documentation and persistence to secure necessary treatment. Ask your question related to this topic & get the support you deserve from experts. So, take a step back and let them deal with the after-effects of their addictive behavior. It’s a routine https://ecosoberhouse.com/ you’ve witnessed repeatedly — and it never gets less painful to watch. Addiction psychiatrist Akhil Anand, MD, offers these tips to help you persevere. Talk therapy (or play therapy for younger children) can also help you all work through the challenges AUD can present to a household.
Talk to someone
Try your best to look into your future and let go of any guilt from the past. To fully move on from being in a relationship with an alcoholic and learn how to put yourself first, it may be beneficial to attend therapy on your own. Therapy will give you the opportunity to develop tools to help you live a healthy life free of burden, guilt, or heartbreak. The impact on your own health and mental well-being if you stay will continue to affect your ability to function in your job and parent your children. Naturally, if your partner is physically violent, the threat to your safety and that of the rest of your family remains high.
Mild Symptoms
- Living in an unpredictable situation can lead to hypervigilance and anxiety.
- Alcohol addiction doesn’t cause domestic abuse relationships.
- You probably spend your days and nights worrying about their safety, and you may be taking on the majority of the household responsibilities while your spouse struggles with alcohol addiction.
- Unstable vital signs increase the risk of complications and can be managed with medications.
- A big part of alcohol recovery is taking steps to improve your lifestyle through changes like diet and exercise.
It won’t be easy, and you may have second thoughts about whether it’s the right decision. If your partner is not hearing your pleas and concerns and won’t even consider how their behavior impacts you, the problem is more significant than just their drinking. Sometimes when we try to rescue or fix those we see struggling, they cannot take responsibility for themselves. This frequently happens in codependent relationships with alcoholics. As a parent, we have to have our children’s best interests at heart. Children who grow up in a household where alcohol is abused are 50% more likely to develop an addiction later in their lives.
When It’s Time To Leave an Alcoholic: Can They Change?
- Finding a therapist can also be a great starting point if you’re uncomfortable opening up to your healthcare professional.
- This article discusses some of the common withdrawal symptoms and what helps with alcohol withdrawal.
- They can help you communicate in a way that doesn’t put your addicted spouse on the defense.
- The problem is that leaving is often the most dangerous time for people being abused.
- As you begin to notice those health benefits, you’ll likely feel more energized and inspired to keep up your progress.
However, there are some key things to remember if you plan to end your romantic relationship with someone who has alcoholism. It is important to remember that you cannot help someone just by loving them or putting them first. You may feel like you can put someone on the right path, but they can only get on that path if they choose to walk on it themselves. Once they’re on the path, they’ll need assistance from a trained substance abuse counselor to truly help them keep inching closer toward recovery. You need to know that your experience with an alcoholic spouse is traumatic and damaging to you and your children. So long as you stay with your alcoholic spouse, you’ll be sharing the responsibility for those bad decisions.
I try to see it that way too but the more I think about it, the more difficult it becomes. For people at low risk of complications, an office visit to your primary care provider, along with at-home monitoring and virtual office visits, may suffice. People at high risk of complications should enter a short-term in-patient detox program. Sherry Gaba, LCSW, is a licensed psychotherapist/author specializing in addictions, codependency, and underlying issues such as depression, trauma, and anxiety. If you really need help, and you just can’t ask, then pay someone to help you. Complex issues around codependency and relationships are often best suited to help from a therapist or counselor.
