How Alcohol Abuse Affects Relationships

When you’re in a relationship with someone who drinks too much, their behavior can be hard to cope with. And when you’re the one with a drinking problem, it can be tough to recognize the harm you’re causing and make a change. Not necessarily, but it’s important to understand how alcohol can affect people and the way they relate to others. Doing so will help you alcoholism reduce the risk of beer, wine, or liquor degrading the health of your relationship. Even if you believe your partner is more important than any substance, your actions will likely prove otherwise if you have alcohol use disorder.

• Now think how many of them occurred when one or both of you were under the influence of alcohol.
• Excessive drinking has numerous impacts on your body and mind, ranging from mild to severe.

Alcohol and children

However, this is contrasted by findings that link alcohol use with coping behaviors that mediate the association between depression and alcohol consumption. This suggests that some individuals may use alcohol as a form of self-medication for depressive symptoms, which can escalate into addiction. Building healthy relationships with people who don’t drink not only helps you steer clear of alcohol but also gives you an opportunity to expand your friendship base. Adopting an exercise program, joining a support group, or talking with a mental health professional are all excellent ways to stay sober. Hiding your drinking from a loved one is a common sign that your habits have become unhealthy.

Tips for healthier drinking and happier relationships

This contributes to the strong correlation between heavy drinking and DV. Below we discuss how alcohol can disrupt your most important relationships. We also draw attention to some red flags that your drinking may have become unhealthy, and provide next steps for making a change. The effects of alcohol on relationships can mean more conflicts in general. For instance, a worried husband may voice his concerns when he sees his wife pouring wine after work every day. And when this dynamic is present in your relationship, it can lead to frequent, full-blown arguments about alcohol use.

Contributing to Marital Strain and Divorce

One of the many complex aspects of alcohol use disorder is when codependency and alcohol misuse intersect. Alcohol codependency occurs when a person becomes reliant on someone and their alcohol misuse hinges on their partner’s behaviors. A partner of someone addicted to alcohol may believe they’re helping the other person by enabling the addiction to continue.

• If these signs resonate with your relationship, seeking professional help can be beneficial.
• Both evidence-based and holistic therapies offer significant benefits when addressing relationship issues related to alcohol.
• Getting professional help is the best way to combat addiction’s mental, emotional, physical and social problems.
• From intimacy problems and lack of emotional availability to the financial burden and negative effects on children, alcohol use disorder can affect partners, their children and other family members.
• If you or your partner are ready to take the first steps toward a healthier connection, Midwest Recovery Centers in Kansas City, MO, can provide compassionate, evidence-based support to help you rebuild and thrive.
• Seeking professional guidance helps create a safe and neutral space where unresolved tensions can be explored constructively.

They may experience loneliness, depression, guilt, anxiety, anger issues and an inability to trust others. Alcohol use can deeply affect relationships, leading to communication issues, loss of trust, and neglecting responsibilities. These factors can create distance between partners and increase conflict. Understanding these patterns can inform alcohol policies, public health messaging, and responses to future crises.

Misunderstandings become common, and discussions might escalate into conflicts. Over time, effective communication becomes rare, making it hard to resolve issues or connect meaningfully. After moving to Devon in 1998 to raise a family, Tabbin tried to change her relationship with drink. ‘I was going to funerals of people younger than me that I’d worked with who – with hindsight – might have died from health conditions exacerbated or caused by their consumption,’ she tells Metro. The qualitative study, based on in-depth interviews with 26 participants from the National Alcohol Survey, explored how pandemic-related changes influenced drinking habits.

• Alcohol consumption is a common factor in situations where domestic violence (DV) has occurred.
• A therapist can facilitate discussions, set boundaries, and guide couples in developing healthier communication habits.
• You can learn more about your treatment options when you contact American Addiction Centers at .
• In general, someone who is a “problem drinker” doesn’t necessarily need medical treatment, intervention, or peer group support to quit.
• Learning more about how alcohol can affect your relationship is already an incredible step to be proud of.

Abuse of alcohol may weaken trust between partners, which is a fundamental basis in every relationship but can be detrimental to such relationships. Alcohol use has the potential to affect any close relationships in your life, including those with romantic partners, as those in relationships are inextricably linked. Too much drinking can lead to less time spent together—and the time you do spend together can feel less meaningful. For how does alcohol affect relationships example, someone who drinks a lot might miss out on time with their spouse because they’d rather be at a bar or party. And when they’re home, they might choose to drink instead of being present with their loved ones. Since many people with substance use disorder believe they’re healthy, an intervention can help.