I’m over at Lori’s generally Thursday through Sunday nights and return home weekdays to continue my writing. She could stay at my place, but I have three housemates and no private bathroom, so it can be a little awkward. My favorite moment of the week is Thursday night when I tuck myself into her bed as I look forward to a long weekend together. The easiest path may be to sink back into the same hobbies and habits you and your spouse enjoyed before, but it’s important to realize that those might be different now.

The Importance of Continued Support for Lasting Marriages

If addiction has impacted your marriage, you may be wondering if the only solution is to separate from your spouse. With work, determination and love, you and your spouse may be able to recover and restore your marriage after Drug rehabilitation addiction. Getting sober after years or decades of alcoholism was like promising not to pour gasoline on the charred remains of our house after I burned it to the ground. After I crushed my spouse’s soul, I asked for loving support in exchange for promising to not crush it again. Codependency can continue to affect marriages even after your partner has become sober. But originally, it was created to describe the romantic partners (usually women, although we now know that men can become codependent as well) of people with SUD.

marriage changes after sobriety

The Ultimate Guide to Navigating the Lengthy Process of Divorce in South Carolina

If you are in recovery from addiction, it’s important to take things slow when it comes to rebuilding your marriage. Recovery is a process that takes time, and it’s important to focus on your sobriety first and foremost. That being said, there are things you can do to start rebuilding trust and communication with your spouse.

Can Relationships Survive in Recovery?

marriage changes after sobriety

One challenge that married couples may face is navigating social situations. Parties or events where alcohol or drugs are present can be difficult for those in recovery. Partners should have open communication about how to handle these situations and come up with a plan to support each other. For couples, it is also beneficial to have a shared support system. This could be attending couples therapy or being a part of a sober living community together. Having people who understand the challenges of maintaining sobriety while also being in a committed relationship can provide valuable guidance and encouragement.

Start the Journey to Healing and Recovery

Having a strong support system in place can make all the difference in maintaining a healthy marriage after rehab. Both partners should feel free to express their needs and wants without fear of judgment or reprisal. This includes communicating about triggers or situations that may jeopardize one’s sobriety. By openly discussing these concerns, couples can work together to create a plan for how to handle them and prevent relapse. I knew that without it, he would eventually destroy our relationship and his life. We had a clear vision of our life together that had been interrupted by his substance use disorder.

Learn more about codependency and alcohol addiction

Contact friends and family members and make a commitment to spend quality time with them. Their addiction likely didn’t give you much time to do things you enjoyed. This can help you to reduce the amount of blame and anger you feel toward your spouse. So we come to accept that going back is not an option and that building new relationships with new boundaries and clear expectations is key. You can also write letters to one another as you learn to communicate openly, honestly, and lovingly again.

marriage changes after sobriety

Jax Taylor Celebrates 100 Days Of Sobriety After Opening Up About Decades-Long Addiction To Cocaine

  • Each partner should receive individual treatment before starting crucial couples counseling to decrease the risk of relapse for both partners.
  • Marriage is a union between two people that involves a strong emotional connection, commitment, and a shared life together.
  • I thought she was selfish because she wasn’t instantly grateful and loving.
  • Want to learn how to support yourself and your spouse during this time of change?
  • Recovering our marriage from alcoholism is the challenge of our lives.
  • Finally, trust between couples may have been broken during addiction if a partner lied about substance abuse and the process to rebuild it may not always be smooth.

Counseling sessions with a professional therapist provide effective relationship tools to help marriages last after rehab. Accordingly, couples learn improved critical communication strategies. Also, during therapy, they can address any underlying issues that may have been impacted by addiction.

How Do You Support Your Sober Partner in Recovery? 11 Real Strategies

If you’ve decided to get sober together, this is an incredible and powerful step to take as a couple. By walking through the recovery process together, you’ll both become stronger and healthier on the other side. While you may look back fondly at the pre-addiction days of your marriage, it’s now time to do things differently. Al-Anon is a 12-step based peer support group for family members of people addicted to alcohol and drugs. You can find a local or virtual support group, and access additional resources, on their website. Although many people recover from SUD every day, recovery is often a long and complex process.