Alcohol and Relationships – Best of Excursions
A successful relationship can be a catalyst for change.
Along with the chaos of alcohol addiction, there is a certain predictability. You can expect missed milestones, lies, obfuscations, and disappointments. When someone in the family is misusing alcohol, it impacts the entire family system. Similarly, in romantic relationships, dangerous drinking behaviors negatively impact relationship quality. A study from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) finds that a successful relationship (among college students) can be a catalyst for change. Data from the study offer hope that a good relationship can provide incentives to seek treatment.
“Findings indicate that highly satisfied intimate relationships are associated with greater readiness-to-change hazardous alcohol use, while hazardous alcohol use is not associated with readiness-to-change relationship issues. Additionally, results indicate that alcohol use is negatively associated with relationship quality in college dating relationships, mirroring previous research on marital relationships. These findings provide important new insights into the potential interplay between romantic relationships, alcohol use, and motivation to change in college students.” Drinking and Dating: Examining the Link between Relationship Satisfaction, Hazardous Drinking, and Readiness-to-Change in College Dating Relationships
Alcohol and Relationships
Alcohol impacts relationships of all sorts: work, romance, marriage and partnerships, and children. We have gone to Sanford’s online magazine to bring you the best of Excursions and information on how to navigate your primary relationships when alcohol is saturating the connection.
Starting the Conversation
How Do I Talk to My Partner About Their Drinking?
Practical tips on when, where, and how to approach your loved one, by Rae Green, JD, LPC, CAADC
Stress causes an individual to drink, and drinking causes stress. Also, the cycle often progresses if left untreated, so it is positive if you are asking the question, have recognized a problem, and are ready to get help. Unsure if your partners’s drinking has progressed to alcoholism? A rule of thumb is that if a family member’s drinking negatively impacts the family, there is a drinking problem. [READ MORE...]
Work Relationships
The Myth of the High-Functioning Alcoholic
We are exposing the concept of high-functioning as a misnomer by Sanford Behavioral Health.
A high-functioning alcoholic is someone who exhibits a pattern of excessive or frequent alcohol consumption yet is able to maintain their drinking habits within socially acceptable boundaries. They may hold a prestigious job, have apparently stable and fulfilling family relationships, and possess the outward appearance of leading a happy life despite their underlying struggles with alcohol. [READ MORE…]
Relationships With Children
What is the Impact of Alcohol on Children Ten and Under?
The Impact of Addiction on Children Ten and Over
A two-part series on the impact of addiction on children by Carli Noffsinger, LMSW, CAADC
Addiction is a disease that can negatively impact generations of a family. However, early intervention and treatment can positively impact a family for generations. What to look for and how to address behavioral issues in children of all ages. [READ MORE under 10…] [READ MORE over 10...]
Marriage, Partnerships, and Romantic Relationships
Is Alcohol Ruining My Marriage?
People go to the internet regularly to ask the burning question, “Is alcohol ruining my marriage?” by Marilyn Spiller.
Many factors impact the relationship between marital instability and alcohol consumption. For example, a study by The University of Buffalo established that marriages end in divorce almost 50% of the time if one of the parties is a heavy drinker. [READ MORE…]
Sanford Behavioral Health Family Program
Family members of all ages can be powerful allies in the recovery process. And while a person is in treatment, it is an excellent time to involve family members. During their loved one’s care, family members may begin to recognize behaviors and habits that have developed while trying to cope with addiction in the family. Family members will also receive support in shifting their focus to areas of their lives that may have become neglected. Sanford Behavioral Health has developed its family program by means of telehealth, to work with all family members. Our program gives loved ones the tools and resources they need to repair relationships and handle the inevitable bumps on the road to recovery.
If you or a loved one are struggling with addiction, eating disorders, or a mental health condition, don’t wait to change your life. Click the link below to speak with an admissions specialist about our programs.
