People in recovery know what it’s like to face huge emotional pain and stay sober. Divorce in recovery doesn’t have to be your undoing. With support, it can be a foundation for a more empowered, sober, and authentic life.
Take control of your life
- A parenting plan may require testing before exchanges, during overnight visitation, and at random intervals throughout parenting time.
- Ultimately, by addressing these issues head-on, individuals can strive for a healthier and more fulfilling life beyond the struggles of addiction and divorce.
- For example, does alcohol affect the division of the family’s financial assets; is the party who drinks going to get less out of the pot on divorce?
After a divorce, you may need to cultivate a new community or revitalize existing relationships in ways that support your recovery journey. Leaning on positive social connections can be transformative. Divorce can feel like the end of the world, but it’s actually the beginning of a new chapter—one in which you can cultivate the healthier, more fulfilling life you deserve. That’s particularly true if you’ve struggled with addiction or substance misuse in the past. The emotional upheaval of a divorce can be incredibly triggering, even for someone with years of sobriety under their belt. Yet it can also serve as a powerful catalyst for change, giving you the momentum to rebuild your life on sturdier foundations.
Seek support
- Navigating through a divorce is a profoundly challenging experience, one that tests emotional resilience and strength.
- Some people will want to talk about the divorce nonstop.
- Support groups specifically for individuals experiencing divorce can provide understanding and practical advice from others facing similar challenges.
- Alcohol and drug abuse can also cause other life difficulties, such as difficulty concentrating, unstable mood, and a lack of interest in activities previously enjoyed.
- If your anxiety or distress symptoms are interfering with your sleep, make it a point to see your doctor.
Divorcing someone who is actively struggling with addiction can come with a unique set of challenges. Divorce is not something to be ashamed of, especially when the benefits of divorce outweigh the perceived benefits of staying in an unfulfilling relationship. About 40 to 50 percent of US marriages lead to divorce, according to the American Psychological Association (APA). She revealed that Hawken had a drug relapse in January 2024 after years of sobriety and that he also began consuming alcohol again sometime after. It may require an intentional and lengthy process for both partners to learn how to rebuild trust within the relationship. Some couples can thrive immediately after the addicted partner becomes sober.
The relationship between alcohol and divorce
They may only be allowed supervised visits or may require treatment for their addiction. However, courts assess drinking levels that negatively affect a parent’s ability to look after their children properly. The remedy did not end with sobriety; that’s where it started. Next, he had to create a treatment plan consisting of therapy, medication, and fellowship to avoid relapse. At first, the idea that if left untreated, his substance use disorder could become a chronic condition was a lot to absorb. I think we are together today for the second reason children of alcoholics marry alcoholics.
It tortured me that he could not stop his drinking. Our twenty-second wedding anniversary is next month. I love Sheri more now than on the day she became my bride. She is the best mother to our Oxford House four children I’ve ever seen.
There are always complicated feelings in a divorce. If you initiated the divorce, you may feel guilty about giving up on your ex and worry about their well-being without you. If your spouse initiates the divorce, you may feel angry and abandoned. This is why it is important to have strategies to avoid relapse. Going through a divorce can feel like your world is splitting in half.
Understanding the Link Between Mental Health and Opioid Addiction
But every time until the last, I eventually started drinking again. I tried to solve my overdrinking problem on too many occasions to count. I came up with rules to limit my intake and keep me in line. I didn’t drink on weekdays, I stuck to beer and avoided hard liquor, I only allowed myself a certain preset quantity and I drank a glass of water between each alcoholic beverage. But rules are made to be broken, and while I followed the various plans enough of the time to give my wife hope, I got drunk and belligerent often enough to crush her soul. My wife, Sheri, is the product of two divorces in her formative years, while my parents are still married to this day.
Seeking new living arrangements may be a time-sensitive issue. https://ecosoberhouse.com/ Certain drugs can make people more prone to reckless behavior, hostility, and violence. If you’re concerned about your safety or that of your children, speak to your attorney about the appropriateness of seeking an emergency child custody order or restraining order.
Each time you cover a bill, save some money, or settle a financial dispute, you reinforce that you’re fully capable of standing on your own two feet—sober and secure. One of the biggest advantages of the post-divorce phase is the opportunity to reimagine divorce after sobriety your future. Whether you initiated the divorce or not, the end of a marriage often forces a reevaluation of priorities. Goal-setting becomes a powerful antidote to despair and aimlessness. Hello Divorce Inc. is not a law firm and its website as well as technology-enabled self-help services and forms are not a substitute for the advice of an attorney.
Leveraging Divorce to Encourage Treatment
Divorce is an option, but it’s not the only option. Through improved communication and in time, you may be able to get a clearer idea of whether your relationship can be saved, and whether you want it to be. Temporary separation from your spouse may also be an option to explore.
