Addiction and Divorce: 5 Strains of Toxicity and What to Do
Marriage can be difficult to navigate. When one spouse has a problem with substance use, the situation can quickly become toxic and extremely difficult to work out.
Addiction can place a great deal of strain on a relationship in several different ways. Following are some of the most toxic strains.
Financial Strain
Those who struggle with substance use disorder often run into financial trouble. Many struggle with work and end up in debt supporting their habit. When a person becomes dependent on drugs or alcohol they prioritize their substance use and go to great lengths to make sure that they have what they need.
Some end up selling their possessions or stealing in order to pay for their addiction. When a spouse finds that they are unable to pay their bills or cannot provide for their children, they may feel that their only option is divorce.
Emotional Distress and/or Abuse
When living with an addict day to day life is anything but ordinary. Constantly worrying about someone’s physical and mental health can cause a person to feel overwhelmed. Abuse is another serious issue.
Some drugs can cause a person to become irritable or even cause violent behavior. When this violence is aimed at a spouse or children, many marriages do not survive.
Loss of Trust
One of the foundations of a good marriage is trust. Without it, relationships often crumble.
If you are being dishonest to your spouse because of your substance use, it will eventually take its toll. If you are lying to your spouse about drugs or alcohol and your spouse finds out it can be very difficult if not impossible for a relationship to recover.
Loss of Children
When the spouse of an addict decides to file for divorce, one of the first things that they’ll do is remove the children from the situation. Imagine only being able to see your kids under supervised visitation, or not being able to see them at all?
It’s not hard for the spouse of an addict to obtain a temporary child custody order, barring you from your children until an arrangement can be determined in court.
If you wish to have shared custody you may be required to seek treatment for substance use.
Intimacy Problems
Drugs and alcohol can destroy a couple’s emotional and physical intimacy, which is an important part of a healthy relationship. Substance use can hinder a man’s ability to get or maintain an erection and make physical intimacy difficult or impossible.
Emotional intimacy requires that a couple spend time together doing meaningful things, and are emotionally available to each other.
Couples should be able to share their feelings freely with each other without drugs or alcohol getting in the way. If one spouse is focused on drug use instead of their partner, it causes emotional intimacy to fade away.
How Treatment Can Help
Seeking treatment for substance use disorder shows that you’re willing to work on yourself and your marriage. Family counseling is often a part of treatment and this can be invaluable in regards to repairing a broken marriage.
Seeking help shows that you recognize that there is a problem and that you are taking the necessary steps to remedy that problem. Showing your family that you care enough about them to take care of yourself can go a long way in starting to mend your family.
If you or your spouse is abusing drugs or alcohol, seek help immediately. Contact Daybreak Treatment Solutions and let us show you how we can help you get your marriage back on track.
DayBreak is NOT just another drug rehab center – it is a treatment solution founded on the core principles of change. Relapse no longer needs to be a part of your story, call us when you are ready for a life rediscovered…844-447-3239