How to Divorce a High-Functioning Alcoholic

To the right of you, you have a person who is well groomed, speaks clearly and walks in a straight line. The two strangers are entirely different, yet both have one thing in common; they are craving their next alcoholic drink. Opioid detox is a physically and emotionally grueling process with symptoms like muscle pain, nausea, anxiety, and insomnia, but with the right support, recovery is possible. It isn’t easy to confront a high-functioning alcoholic, but with information, planning, and compassion, it is possible to reach them. A very inexpensive yet indispensable guide for anyone struggling with a loved one’s addiction. Chapters on intervention, what to expect from rehab, and information on how addiction impacts the family.

#3: They Live Double Lives

If you decide to divorce a high-functioning alcoholic, you may need to be prepared for them to push away your attempts to help and resist getting help from professionals. When someone struggles with alcohol to the point that they cannot function, it https://ecosoberhouse.com/ can still be hard to walk away. However, it may be most difficult to walk away from a high-functioning alcoholic. A high-functioning alcoholic maintains a seemingly normal life while struggling with alcohol dependence. This can mask the severity of their addiction, making it harder for them and others to recognize the need for help and treatment. This can be incredibly isolating because, on the outside, no one will know what you deal with in the home.

Resources Available During a Divorce from an Alcoholic Spouse

Working with experts and witnesses can strengthen your case by providing objective perspectives and professional opinions. Their input can help the court better understand the impact of alcohol abuse on the children and support your high functioning alcoholic claim for custody. Navigating the challenges of divorcing an alcoholic requires careful consideration of the well-being of both yourself and your children. Seeking professional guidance and support can be invaluable during this challenging time. A partner of a high-functioning alcoholic may notice marked personality changes surrounding drinking. They are irritable before they drink, suddenly calm after they begin to consume alcohol, and then, with additional drinks, they could become moody, insulting, or belligerent.

They constantly justify their drinking habits

• Consulting a mental health professional or addiction specialist can provide a clearer diagnosis and help you understand the extent of the problem.
• If you’re living with a loved one who struggles with addiction and doesn’t recognize their behavior as a problem despite serious consequences, it can be incredibly difficult.
• If you can be open about your drinking, they may be able to help you safely get on the path to sobriety.
• Oftentimes, when people think about alcoholics you envision these lives and situations that are a real mess.
• Living with someone struggling with addiction can be overwhelming and deeply challenging.
• Their loved ones and friends often don’t see the warning signs or refuse to believe their loved one has a problem.

They may drink before going out to work or sneak to a bar to drink alone. Their secretive drinking behaviour may be due to shame or fear of judgment from others. Often, people use humor to try and make Substance abuse light of a serious situation.

• As they are skillful at creating the illusion of being healthy and stable, they are usually not the only ones in denial.
• He or she has to get in the drinking, but can’t take the risk of others finding out or suspecting the real problem.
• The effects of having an alcoholic husband aren’t things that should be ignored as they can escalate into a more serious problem.

The process is led by highly-trained detox experts who provide emotional and medical support to keep you comfortable and safe while effectively managing the detox symptoms. If you or someone around you is habitual of sneaking in a bottle of alcohol now and then or indulging too much in alcohol, it is essential to find out if they are a high-functioning alcoholic. Catching the issue in time can allow you to seek timely help and get over it before it starts causing visible destruction.

• Their representatives will discuss whether their facility may be an option for you.
• By taking steps to protect your children’s well-being during a divorce from an alcoholic spouse, you can ensure that they have the support and stability they need during this difficult time.
• Addiction can lead to job loss, missed work days, and decreased productivity.
• This can help them adjust more easily to the changes in their family structure and set them up for a brighter future.

You may find that you’re spending all your time doing damage control at your job, with friends and family, or dealing with the fallout from the drinking. Having an alcoholic husband or wife in your home has such a negative ripple effect. It impacts everything from finances, time, relationships, and personal health. Living with an alcoholic partner often means facing a daily barrage of emotional challenges. You might be on the receiving end of verbal aggression – harsh words, criticisms, or humiliating comments, especially during times of heavy drinking. Treatment providers are available 24/7 to answer your questions about rehab, whether it’s for you or a loved one.

Because denial is such an issue with substance abuse disorders, figuring out how to help an alcoholic, especially a functioning one, can be daunting. It is usually challenging to get them to admit they have a problem, and this is often an impediment to getting help. As a result, the disease may progress for years, leading to complications and an increased risk of death. Thus, high-functioning alcoholism is as dangerous as or even more so than classic AUD since it takes longer for the severe consequences of alcohol abuse to arise. Alcohol abuse is progressive, and leaving it untreated leads to the buildup of tolerance and extensive damage over time.