Addiction seems to be more common among the younger generation. This is because they are relatively more impressionable and given towards substance abuse. However, even married men and women still fall into this dark abyss now and then. So much so that they often need addiction counseling for couples.
More often than not, the problem starts small. Sometimes, it’s hard to accept that your partner may need an addiction treatment program for substance abuse. But the signs will start creeping in on you. You’ll see the dishonesty, late nights, and an unusual disposition towards violence.
Even we admit that all of this can be a bit difficult to deal with. However, it’s not impossible. It may seem like a longshot. However, with your help and effective addiction counseling for couples or enrollment in an inpatient treatment program that has a family counseling component, you can help your spouse get through this trying time.
How to Help Your Spouse Get Rid of their Addiction
This, right here, is the million-dollar question. Unlike a regular craving or the urge to have a piece of cake at 3 AM, drug addictions have several things in common. While the normal cravings can be taken care of with a bit of self-discipline, the latter comes with more challenges. Chief among these are withdrawal symptoms, which we recommend is overseen by a professional in some sort of inpatient medical detox facility.
You’ll definitely address it in your addiction counseling for couples. But these nasty little things pop up when the body is (almost) entirely dependent on the drugs being abused. They vary in their level of severity, with the worst-case scenario being death.
So, if you must help your spouse fight their addiction, the best you can do is to sign them up to a residential treatment center for substance abuse or get them to an addiction counseling center for couples.
That way, they’ll be able to tackle their problem with professional help. Alongside that, with the advice that comes with marriage counseling in Texas, you can get your marital life back on track.
The Best Programs for Dealing with Addiction in Marriage
There are many different programs specifically designed to help your spouse safely get through their addiction. Some are woven into addiction counseling for couples.
Others, however, exist separately without necessarily counteracting themselves. Among the other kinds of addiction treatment, here are the top programs we’ll recommend you sign your partner up for:
Gender-Separate Inpatient Counseling
Gender-separate inpatient drug addiction rehab is a relatively common kind of addiction counseling for couples. Admittedly, it is not specifically designed for married individuals. Anyone who needs addiction treatment can utilize this kind of program, including teenagers. However, regardless of its fluidity in the target demographic, this counseling type is one of the most efficient. The best part about this is that it is not co-ed, and therefore, limits any outside distractions.
With inpatient counseling, your spouse will live in a treatment facility for a given period. The system then takes them through the activities they’ll require to come out on top of their situation. Alongside treatment, the inpatient counseling center will monitor your partner closely to ensure they don’t slip back into their old ways. That way, you can rest in the knowledge your spouse is making progress.
So, if you’re thinking of getting inpatient treatment for substance use disorders in Fort Worth, we encourage you to check out our facility, as you’re moving in the right direction. However, the best way for you to get the most from inpatient rehab is gender-specific counseling.
This segmentation helps the counselors to address the specific issues that relate to each gender. Recovery from addiction is much more effective that way.
Outpatient Counseling
Unlike inpatient rehab, your spouse does not necessarily need admission for outpatient counseling. They can go in and out of the addiction treatment center at will. Of course, there will be a schedule for addiction counseling for couples. However, the main thing about this kind of counseling is you don’t have to remain within the facility.
Despite its lack of semblance to inpatient counseling, this program still has its upsides. Most crucially, it will help your partner get over their addiction. It may not be quite as intense as inpatient counseling, but it’s still useful if your spouse isn’t too far gone.
Detox Programs
This is less of addiction counseling for couples as it is more geared towards your spouse’s physical recovery. This type of treatment program aims to rid your partner’s body of the drugs or substances. Experts can achieve this in different ways, including using properly prescribed medication.
Apart from the variety in detoxification methods, there is a huge question mark regarding the duration. This is because it can vary based on drug, history of abuse, and amount of times someone has previously detoxed. For a guide on how long alcohol detox typically takes, we recommend you check out our previous blog mentioned in the hyperlink.
For some, it can take a few days or weeks. However, for others, it may stretch out for some other people as far as a month, even if they’re using the best alcohol detox in Texas. It depends on factors such as:
- The type of substance the abuser has been using
- How long they’ve had the addiction
- How severe the addiction (snorting, injecting, smoking, or swallowing)
- How much of the drug they take
- Genetic makeup
While it is possible to detox by yourself, it isn’t advisable. Suddenly quitting can lead to complications that range from serious to severe. Try to visit a medical professional first.
They’ll assess the situation and give you directives on what to do. Afterward, you can pair your detox program with addiction counseling for couples.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Program
These kinds of programs aim to help your spouse fight their addiction on a mental level. Essentially, they help your partner find whatever connections exist between their feelings, thoughts, and actions. This will help to increase their awareness of how these three factors impact their recovery.
It helps addicts identify the emotional and mental triggers of their addiction in relatively more straightforward terms. When they can see these things better, they can fight and overcome their addiction.
Detox concentrates on your body, and cognitive
behavioral therapy (CBT) focuses on your mind.
In a way, you can say that it contrasts detox programs. After all, detox concentrates on your body, and cognitive behavioral therapy programs focuses on your mind. However, these kinds of programs are incredibly effective as they tackle the root of the problem. What makes them even better is how they can easily synergize with your addiction counseling for couples to produce excellent results.
Experiential Therapy
Unlike many others on this list, this isn’t exactly the traditional method of treating addictions. More recovering addicts than you think don’t like to go through the traditional methods of addiction treatment. This kind of therapy takes them outside other programs’ routine methodologies and takes them into a new world of art studios, outdoor experiences, and so much more.
In essence, this kind of therapy engages addicts in various activities. These activities can be anything from sculpting to rock climbing to painting, equine therapy and ropes course activities, and everything else in between.
For a list of the Top 5 Benefits of Equine Therapy, we encourage you to check out one of most popular blogs on the matter!
The point of these activities is to help your addicted spouse develop a stronger sense of themselves. More importantly, it helps them face past traumas and buried emotions. With this, your partner will be much less inclined to start snorting, sniffing, smoking, or drinking any of the bad stuff. They’ll grow healthier and, with addiction counseling for couples, you can get your life back on track.
12-Step Programs
12-Step Programs, like the one offered at Stonegate Center (located in Azle, Texas) approach your partner’s addiction through twelve different steps. The founders of this method culled these steps from spiritual origins. However, people from different religions can use it and continue to use it till this day.
This method aims to help your partner by guiding them through a series of self-help philosophies of sorts. The 12 steps in this program are:
- Admitting that you’re powerless against your addiction.
- Believing that there’s a higher power that can restore you.
- Turning your will and life to the care of God.
- Making your own moral inventory.
- Admitting your wrongs to God, yourself, and someone else.
- Preparing for God to remove these defects in your character.
- Humbly asking for a removal of your shortcomings.
- Making a list of people you’ve hurt during your addiction with the full intention to make amends.
- Making amends with those you’ve hurt unless it’ll hurt them if you do.
- Holding yourself accountable and admitting your error as soon as you make a mistake.
- Improving your contact with God through prayer and meditation.
- Conveying the message to other addicts while spreading these twelve steps across other areas of your life.
Faith-Based Programs
Last but not least, faith-based programs for drug and alcohol addiction are common all over America. If you’re religious, you might want to try out this treatment program. And we are proud to offer, what we believe, is one of the best faith-based programs for substance abuse in Texas.
While it is based on faith, it does not neglect everything else. For example, many faith-based programs still provide the required medical services for their recovering addicts.
Alongside the medical and clinical benefits, these kinds of programs provide a warm, accepting community for addicts. Alongside your addiction counseling for couples, they’re an excellent way to help your partner.
How to Contribute to Your Partner’s Addiction Recovery
Couples counseling in Fort Worth and addiction treatment programs in North Texas are a great place to start. Check out our two, gender-separate facilities for men and women below:
(1) Stonegate Center Creekside for Men: Texas’ premier drug & alcohol addiction treatment center for men looking for a long-term solution to their substance use disorder.
(2) Stonegate Center Hilltop for Women: One of Texas’ few, preeminent substance abuse treatment center tailored for women looking for a long-term solution to drug & alcohol abuse.
(3) Trevor’s House Sober Living for Men: A recovery community for men in Fort Worth, Texas, looking for a long-term after-care plan after completing an inpatient rehab program.
However, you still have a part to play that goes beyond recommending a treatment program. Here’s what you can do:
Become Their Accountability Partner
This part is essential. It may be difficult in the early stages as your partner will have an incredible urge to go back to their addiction. But, no matter how many times they seem to regress, you have to be a source of accountability.
Check on them frequently. Have them report their substance abuse progress to you. Find out if they’ve been attending their therapy/counseling sessions. Ensure they’re accountable for their actions.
Do Not Be An Enabler
This point cannot be overstated. Do not become an enabler. Set clear boundaries. Avoid actions like providing money for drugs, covering for them at work, taking care of their responsibilities, etc.
Attend Counseling Sessions With Them
If you’re here, reading this article, it’s safe to say you really do want your spouse to get over their addiction problem. Apart from caring about them, it may be because it’s starting to affect your marriage.
If this is the case, then you can’t afford to leave them to their addiction treatment sessions alone. As often as is required, attend the marriage counseling sessions you have. It will play a significant role in the recovery process.
Educate Yourself On Addiction
You cannot help your partner if you don’t even know what they’re going through. All your addiction counseling for couples would fall flat if you’re completely clueless about addiction itself. It may be a bit of a hassle, but it’s here, and you’ll have to deal with it. Thankfully, it’s not something you can’t handle.
So, learn what you can about addiction. Read up and even ask any professionals you have access to. These sources will provide valuable information on dealing with different parts/effects of your partner’s addiction.
Our 17 Best Resources for Family Members Dealing with Addiction are listed below for those looking to educate themselves about the disease of addiction as well as get tangible advice and guidelines on what to do from experts and peers:
(1) Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA): is an agency withing the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that aims to advance behavioral health efforts across the country.
(2) National Institute of Health > National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA): is a federal-government research institute that conducts studies on the biological, behavioral, and social impacts of drug and alcohol abuse.
(3) American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM): is the nation’s leading addiction medicine society that represents physicians, clinicians, and other treatment professionals; Much of the health insurance billing criteria for addiction treatment centers around ASAM guidelines.
(4) Family Resource Center: is a community of resources designed to help parents understand more about their child’s substance use disorder.
(5) Learn to Cope, Inc.: is a non-profit and peer-led support network founded to help parents and family members cope with a loved one’s addiction to opiates and other drugs.
(6) Self-Management and Recovery Training (SMART Recovery): is a global community of people and families coming together to overcome the suffering caused by drug and alcohol addiction; This is different from resources like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), Al-Anon or Narcotics Anonymous (NA), which offer a more spiritual approach to recovery.
(7) National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI): is a scientific database of peer-reviewed research articles and studies for those more inclined to learn about the science behind addiction.
(8) Addiction Education Society: is an organization that provides public education, information, and resources regarding substance use disorders and addiction as well as its impact on families.
(9) The National Association for Christian Recovery: is a non-profit organization that was founded to grow recovery communities by partnering with Christian churches or faith-based organization.
(10) Parents of Addicted Loved Ones (PAL): is a parent support group that’s goal is “providing hope, guidance, and addiction education to those who are affected by addiction.”
(11) The Partnership at Drugfree.org: is a non-profit organization that partners with families, professionals, and other organizations like treatment center in order to help individuals and families struggling with drug addiction or alcoholism.
(12) Treatment Resource Institute (TRI): a national non-profit research, development and policy organization, which recently merged with PHMC, another non-profit public health institute for families and communities.
(13) National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information (NCADI): is an organization that distributes publications and other resources about drug abuse treatment and intervention.
(14) An Addict in Our Son’s Bedroom: a popular blog about a real-life parent that went through the process of recovery with her son; We highly recommend this for mothers with a child struggling with addiction.
(15) Seeking Serenity Blog: another blog but from the perspective of three parents as they deal with their child’s addiction.
(16) Psychology Today: an extensive directory of therapists (e.g. addiction therapist) that also has a blog-style format with content written by qualified addiction treatment specialists; This is a great resource if you’re ready to move to the next step and look for an addiction counselor in your area.
(17) The Gottman Institute: is an organization that culminates the entire lifework of Drs. John and Julie Gottman, who were renowned researchers and clinical psychologists; They approach relationship health for couples by merging clinical research with workshops and guidelines – which is especially great for couples.
Do Not Judge
When your partner is addicted, they’re likely to mess up a few things occasionally. They may lie to you or spend more money than they should, but you cannot judge them. They’re going through enough already. Constantly judging them may push them back into the initial pit of depression that contributes to drug use in the first place.
Potential Effects of Ignoring Substance Abuse in Your Marriage
We’ve gone through virtually all you need to know to help you deal with your partner’s addiction problem. However, you need to know what will happen if you neglect to take care of the addiction problem.
Financial Difficulties
Depending on how long your partner has suffered addiction, you’re probably experiencing this already. Nevertheless, if you don’t take care of it, they’ll only continue spending money on drugs, leaving the family broke.
Abuse
Addicts, especially when they’re high, aren’t exactly popular for their calm rationality. If you don’t take care of the addiction problem, you may be opening up the family to abuse. It can take different horrifying forms from verbal to physical and even sexual.
Legal Issues
If the problem continues unchecked, the chances are that the authorities will find out. When that happens, you’ll then have to go through the entire trouble of child custody alongside all its stress-inducing partners.
In Conclusion…
Being married to an addict isn’t easy — not by any stretch of the imagination. However, the best way to solve this issue is to face it head-on. Most likely, an addicted spouse is never going to take steps to get help. They won’t just wake up and decide to visit a residential treatment center for substance abuse.
Instead, it’s up to you to help them see they need to sign up at an inpatient drug addiction rehab. If it’s an alcohol issue, they need the expert help of the best alcohol detox in Texas.
Remember, for the best results, go with gender-specific addiction treatment. Here at Stonegate Center, we are home to addiction treatment experts with years of experience. This means we can develop a customized treatment and counseling approach for you and your spouse.
So, give us a call at (817) 993-9733 or email us at admissions@stonegatecenter.com if you’d like to speak with one of our Admissions Coordinators in order to learn more.
Our 125+ acre campus in Azle, Texas, provides a tranquil setting for you to dive deep into the underlying issues of your addiction, mental health, and spiritual journey. We highly recommend our 90-day inpatient rehab program for those dealing with severe, chronic relapse as they typically produce the best results. However, we also have shorter programs that last 45-days and 60-days, respectively.
While on campus, you’ll have access to top-notch individual counseling, group therapy, and our renowned Family Integration Program, designed by our Clinical Directors to help heal the families affected by addiction. We, also, offer an Alumni Program at no cost, in which we camp, go paintballing, and eat crawfish with our alumni after they graduate! This might be the most fun part about rehab, so we encourage you to check it out.
For a 100% confidential and free quote, fill out our insurance verification form, and we’ll get back to you within the hour with your results. At the time of this writing, we are in-network with Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, Cigna, Ambetter, HealthChoice of Oklahoma, PHCS Multiplan, and others. Unfortunately, we are not accepting Medicare/Medicaid patients at this time; however, are more than happy to refer you to one of our trustworthy affiliates.
We look forward to learning more about you, and hope you choose us as your treatment provider!
