Alcoholic spouses: how serious is your problem with alcohol?

Does your spouse show signs of alcoholism? In other words, does your spouse need more and more alcohol to feel “drunk” or intoxicated? Here are 5 common signs of alcohol addiction:

1. Do you drink to relax?
2. Does your alcoholic spouse get defensive if you bring up the subject of drinking?
3. Has your spouse tried to quit alcohol and failed?
4. Does your spouse go through alcohol withdrawal if you try to stop drinking?
5. Does your spouse have problems with marital relationships, problems with raising children, and possibly with work?

Here is a typical case from my psychiatry practice:

SL is a 35-year-old man. He comes to me for anxiety and depression problems. He is a successful lawyer. However, he complains of experiencing panic symptoms when he appears in front of a jury. His anxiety is interfering with his career and he wants medication for it. Although I prescribed medication, he did not have a strong response and this is why. His wife called me one day and told me that her husband has been drinking every night for 2 years. Initially, he drank a beer to relax after work. This number has increased over time to 6-8 beers per night. SL is alcohol dependent. The alcohol is counteracting his medication. His dependence on his alcohol needs to be addressed.

How serious is your alcohol problem, anyway? There are 4 stages of addiction to alcoholism.

early stage: The typical initial stage begins with drinking to relax. Drinking becomes an escape and is used to improve mood or relieve stress. SL is drinking to relax and “forget his problems”.

Intermediate stage: The middle stage is defined as the need to drink more and more to get the same “buzz.” Your alcoholic spouse won’t admit to a drinking problem, but they’ve thought about it a lot. His brain is dependent on alcohol. In other words, alcohol withdrawal symptoms like insomnia and shakiness occur if you try to stop drinking. Blackouts and hangovers are common. SL fits into this category.

Late stage: This internship is very serious. Your alcoholic spouse has become obsessed with drinking alcohol. Nothing else matters. Often your alcoholic husband or wife will become malnourished (vitamin B1 deficiency). Liver problems, pancreas problems, anemia, and neurological problems can occur. Legal problems are common. Marital stress is a fact. At this point, your alcoholic spouse has attracted and spends their time drinking and seeking alcohol. A medical professional must be involved in the “detoxification” of your alcoholic spouse or he/she could die from alcohol withdrawal.

Alcoholism is a chronic and progressive disease. Early intervention is very important. In the later stages of alcoholism addiction, the brain has become so dependent on alcohol that it will be much more difficult for your alcoholic spouse to overcome the brain’s craving for alcohol. Going to Al-Anon is a great first step in gaining support and tools to deal with this family illness. Don’t procrastinate. The longer you wait, the more difficult it will be for your alcoholic spouse to recover.