Can a Marriage Survive Alcoholism?

by Carey
(Ire)

Do you think it’s possible for a marriage to survive alcoholism? My husband and I have been married 13 years. The first 2-3 years were great, then he began sinking into his alcoholism which lasted around 8 years, and now for the last 2 or so he’s been sober.

I honestly just feel we have nothing really in common anymore. He is very focused on his recovery and is very involved with AA, and so there isn’t much really to talk about because he mostly just uses AA and recovery lingo nowadays.

Don’t get me wrong, I am happy for him, and am thrilled he’s sober again, but being married to him when he was drinking, was really hard, and I think I lost something then which we haven’t really been able to re-kindle, even since he’s been sober.

I’m not even sure I’m that sad anymore, maybe our time together has just run its course?

Carey

Answer

Hi Carey

Relationships are hard work at the best of times. Throw in a spouse suffering from an addiction, and it can become almost impossible, so the fact that you’re still together is a blessing in itself. So when it comes to alcoholism and marriage it’s almost impossible to predict how things will turn out.

Your husband has no doubt undergone a massive change and the fact that he’s so serious about his recovery is great, but that can still put a strain on the relationship because that’s where all his focus now lies, so feeling distant and probably a little left out and neglected is not unusual for someone in your position.


The best thing you can do is focus on yourself again, and discover the things you enjoy doing and that make you happy, because that would have been incredibly difficult no doubt while your husband was in the middle of his addiction. As much as your husband is focused on his recovery, you also need time to heal and re-discover yourself because addiction does affect family and loved ones massively as well. So make that your focus, and while you and your husband are both busy rediscovering yourselves, you will hopefully end up rediscovering each other.

But if that doesn’t work, then it may be time to consider counselling and see if that won’t help your marriage. You may be right that your relationship has run its course because I think that can happen, but in your case I still think it’s too early to tell, and there is a lot you can still do and try before making such a big and permanent decision.

Don’t also forget the importance of communicating your feelings to your husband. He may simply be so wrapped up in his recovery, that all he needs is a little prod to remind him that he also needs to work at your relationship.

So don’t give up yet. Things can still change.

Best Wishes