Alcohol addiction among couples could be detrimental to society especially when there are children involved in the story. When a couple is both suffering from addiction, there is a huge tendency for domestic violence and negligence to be present in the family.
On top of that, the addition of one can take a toll on the recovery of the other if a one-sided treatment is done. For this reason, it is very important for a couple to both undergo alcohol rehab treatment together or individually if the desire to build a better and more peaceful relationship is great. Read on to find more about the nature of alcohol rehab for couples.
Couples Addiction Treatment
Addiction treatment as a couple could be as challenging as an individual treatment. Although the advantage of increased support to each other is effective, especially in motivating each other to pursue treatment, there are still quite several hurdles to consider whether a treatment together is the best option for both people.
Here are some conditions you need to look into before enrolling in an alcohol rehab treatment:
Have a Mutual Vision
If you both share the same vision of living a sober life together as individuals, then go on and take a couple of treatments. The decision to recover from an alcohol use disorder must freely come from each other otherwise the treatment will never work. Moreover, the reluctance of the other may only hold the other one’s progress so make sure a mutual vision is clear.
No History of Domestic Violence
Domestic violence is another separate area that needs to be worked on to overcome. If your partner has displayed acts of aggressiveness and violence towards you, it will not be helpful for both of you to stay on an addiction treatment together.
The first thing you need to do is to let your partner undergo domestic violence treatment. After that, alcohol rehab treatment follows.
Focus is Only Alcohol Addiction
If one of them has an antisocial personality disorder, then that person needs to undergo separate treatment for that behavioral problem. This is important because any other disorder that exists with addiction must also be treated and that would require a different program for each of you.
Possible Outcome
Addiction treatment is still a personal path and it takes individual strength of will and effort to achieve progress despite experiencing a similar state as couples. In a couple’s treatment, things may not always go well together as expected. There will be instances where one could fall out in the process and risk the relationship to an end.
For this reason, some experts would still highly recommend individual treatment. However, if you and your partner are strongly committed to each other and you both want treatment together, taking a couple’s treatment is not that bad at all. Studies have shown it to be beneficial as it increases focus and dedication to recovery and strengthens the relationship.
How Couples Rehab Works
Couples rehab works in similar stages as individual rehabs. The only difference is that the condition of working together is given more emphasis and greatly considered in therapies and counseling programs. Also, each person will receive a different detox program depending on their conditions.
Withdrawal symptoms of every individual may vary; that is why the treatment for managing discomfort can be done differently and separately. In an inpatient program, couples may be given the option to stay together in a room or different quarters. There are different rehab methods specifically designed for couple’s treatment.
Here are the most popular methods you can discuss with your professional healthcare provider:
Alcohol Behavioral Couples Therapy
This method revolves around the idea that relationships are ruined by alcoholism and for this reason, people engage more heavily in alcoholism. As a response, this method makes use of the couple’s interaction to promote positive feelings and establish a more effective way of communicating with each other and solving problems together.
Significant results from studies have shown the effectiveness of this method in building happier relationships and allowing couples to live a life of abstinence. It has also shown a lower risk of divorce and separation compared to couples taking individual treatments. This method has been hailed as an outstanding method to attain an alcohol-free lifestyle together.
Family Therapy
This method emphasizes the essence of the role of family members. The goal is to patch things up among them by strengthening ties and resolving family conflicts together. With the help of a therapist, family members can discuss the impact of each one’s presence in the life of the others. With open communication, better relationships are built in the family.
This method can be applied in couples who are both addicted to alcohol or with one partner who is. It also works effectively because the support given by family members to a loved one engaged in addiction is really helpful to their overall disposition as well as to their recovery. It offers emotional healing and positive mental health.
Couples Recovery
A great advantage of a couple’s addiction treatment is a guarantee that patients have a partner to rely upon outside the rehab center. The couple serves as each other’s support group and helps each other take care of themselves. However, their partnership is not enough to fully recover. Continuous therapy and counseling are still necessary for the two.
Post-rehab care may include support groups like Recovering Couples Anonymous and Alcoholics Anonymous. You both can attend individual or joint therapies – depending on your preference. Regardless of your choice, aftercare treatment must never be overlooked or seen as unnecessary because a relapse can happen to anyone at any time.
The role of a couple in the family is very important as it directs the sail of the family in a specific direction. A sound mind and body can greatly impact the disposition of the children as well as who they would become in the future. Seeking professional help can truly make difficult lives better.
