Do Marriages Last after Rehab?

When asking whether marriage can survive sobriety, the answer can be yes—if a couple takes a healthy approach to managing their problems and discussing their feelings. It will take time to rebuild trust so it’s important to not put pressure on each other and instead take it one day at a time. In some ways, re-establishing a marriage in the wake of addiction is like dating and getting to know someone new, so it can be helpful to connect on specific date nights. It is vital for couples to have outside support during this time. Couples counseling can create a safe space to air out feelings and emotions and set concrete relationship goals to move forward. Each spouse should also be attending 12-step support groups.

The supportive partner may want to be needed, and feel unhappy, lost, or confused with the new relationship dynamic. It may require an intentional and lengthy process for both partners to learn how to rebuild trust within the relationship. But for most couples experiencing substance use, life after sobriety isn’t so smooth. This is because of the way long-term substance use has affected both partners as well as the relationship itself.

There will be ups and downs but if you are willing to put in the work and get through the difficult early phase, then you can have a normal, happy life with your sober partner. Finding new activities and habits to enjoy is essential for addicts to have a healthy and lasting recovery. However, often addicts in a relationship will feel guilty about limiting the options of their spouse or partner. A great way to support them in their recovery is to be proactive and research fun sober activities that you can enjoy together.

1. And many of those individuals have partners or spouses.
2. Those who enable have good intentions—they don’t want to see their spouse in trouble or hurting—so they step in and help minimize the alcoholic’s consequences or hurt feelings.
3. You can also write letters to one another as you learn to communicate openly, honestly, and lovingly again.
4. Nevertheless, it is worth remembering that they are powerless before recovery — they only help their sober partner get on the right track and continue to stay sober.
5. Relationships can survive the impact of alcoholism, but they are forever changed.

Like I had my strategies, and I was, you know, far enough along. I know, I would not buy you beer for the first six months, which might have been kind of annoying to you. But you know, and most of your friends now that you’re pretty open with them about right the fact anymore wouldn’t bring that to your house.

The course will help you turn the decision to stop drinking from your worst case scenario to the best decision of your life. And with my approach you won’t feel deprived or isolated in the process. So if you’re interested in learning more about all the details, please go to You can start at any time and I would love to see you in the course.

Couples may also be taking the necessary steps to make sure their marriage stays healthy. That could include individual or couples counseling when necessary for relationship tune-ups, or checking in regularly with their support groups. But you know, I remember that I met there was a woman in my neighborhood, who I very much lifetime. You know, we have kids the same age, she worked, I work, she was cool. And she invited me to be part of this book club. And she was, you know, highlighting, hey, the women are amazing.

Just because our marriage dissolved doesn't mean Priscilla and I don't love each other. Her every movement, the way she speaks, how long does alcohol stay in your system and how she cares for others has always inspired me. That's not going to change just because we're no longer married.

Living with someone with a substance use disorder

Spouses of alcoholics end up assuming much of the day-to-day responsibilities in their household. Those who enable have good intentions—they don’t want to see their spouse in trouble or hurting—so they step in and help minimize the alcoholic’s consequences or hurt feelings. In many cases, these actions wind up enabling the addict, offering help that perpetuates the addiction rather than stopping it. It is difficult to deal with an alcoholic spouse or loved one. You will find yourself frustrated and feeling hopeless. But there is hope for your relationship and for your spouse’s recovery.

What happens in a marriage when one partner stops drinking and the other one doesn’t

Addiction treatment can help you get to the root of your addiction and learn how to manage your triggers and cravings. It can also give you the tools you need to rebuild your marriage after sobriety. It was how you were used to doing that together. It’s a social lubricant for everybody or everybody.

Interview with Chantal Jauvin, author "Love Without Martinis."

What that chaos did to his well-being. Becoming involved with your spouse’s recovery from the beginning will not only provide them with encouragement and support but will allow you to work on repairing your relationship. That’s because codependency is a relationship trait and condition that’s independent of the substance use itself. In other words, it continues even when the substance use has stopped.

Alcohol and Hair Loss

We drink a lot of wine, which in early sobriety was terrifying to me. I was just like, what do I say, you know, and I was saying to him, I’m like, Hey, I wanted to be friends with her. I didn’t want her to not want to hang out with me. She had mentioned the wine book club thing, which I knew was a thing, because I’ve been a part of it.

My drinking became more reclusive. My husband had his own battles which are not mine to tell. But we fell into an unstable place. Eventually, I was wearing the equivalent of pajamas underneath my abaya to work, piling unwashed hair on top of my head in a messy bun. Those after-work drinks stretched later into the night.

New Year’s Resolution: Getting Sober

But you and my mom asked, or something happened? Where could we have a bottle of red wine at dinner on Christmas dinner? And you guys why alcohol makes you feel warm didn’t know this. You know, it’s my Christmas dinner. There’s a bottle of red wine there. I literally wanted to wring your neck.

It’s suggested that you’re careful of these behaviors, as they can lead to a codependent dynamic. Codependency can continue when does alcohol withdrawal brain fog go away to affect marriages even after your partner has become sober. The term codependency is used often and colloquially.

You will make it clear to your loved one that, because you care about him or her, you want them to get help and you have a treatment option already set up for them. The goal of an intervention is not to blame or to punish someone, but to help your loved one see their need for treatment, and then accept help to turn their life around. Alcoholism can destroy your marriage. Alcohol abuse can damage relationships in many ways, driving a wedge between spouses, family members and friends.