Addiction is challenging enough when one person is struggling with a substance use disorder, but it can be even more trying when a couple is battling it. Addiction can cause harm to not only your own mental and physical health but it can put a wedge in marital relationships while destroying other areas of your life as well. Seeking rehab for married couples is a beneficial option for those seeking to achieve and maintain sobriety as well as those who need to repair or rebuild their relationship.
It can be difficult for individuals battling addiction to quit using drugs or alcohol regardless of any negative consequences that may come along with alcohol or substance abuse but it can be even more challenging to put an end to the cycle of abuse when couples are abusing together. One person’s problematic behavior may reinforce that of the other. Another risk of married couples battling substance abuse together is codependency, which might further enable addiction. Sometimes couples are drawn together because of their addiction so quitting can be exceedingly difficult.
The truth is, without proper rehab for married couples therapy, overcoming addiction and relationship issues can seem insurmountable and the cycle of addiction may continue. Read on to learn more about addiction rehab for married couples and its pros and cons.
Can Couples Go to Rehab Together?
Substance abuse can cause significant damage to a relationship – even for the most committed couples. Prolonged alcohol and drug abuse can result in personal, financial and professional difficulties. Substance abuse and marital problems can generate a destructive cycle that spirals downward. Some rehab for married couples programs employ treatment options that support sobriety while restructuring dysfunctional couple interactions. Programs such as behavioral couples therapy (BCT) can benefit married couples or integrated behavioral couples therapy (IBCT) battling addiction issues.
Some couples find great benefits from addiction treatment together while others find greater success by attending on their own. Many couples who have a strong relationship may benefit from going through the recovery process together.
Pros of Couples Addiction Treatment
If both couples are fully committed to rehab for married couples and sobriety, drug and alcohol treatment programs can help. Many couples who go through addiction treatment learn life skills together to help them cope with addiction individually and together. The addiction recovery treatment process focuses primarily on lifestyle change, so couples who learn about this together may greatly benefit.
Therapists help couples to learn to identify the causes behind their addiction while teaching them coping skills to learn individually and as a couple. Learning to understand the challenges of addiction together and how they can work as a team to overcome those challenges can be greatly beneficial. Couples’ relationship issues and personal issues can also be addressed during therapy that can affect their addiction.
Couples often stand a much higher rate of remaining sober if they are successful in rehab for married couples programs. Many couples find that their relationships feel much stronger after attending a couples rehab program and they grow closer together more intimately. Married couples can grow together to coach and support each other as well.
Cons of Couples Addiction Treatment
Not all situations are ideal for rehab for married couples. BCT and IBCT may not be advisable in some scenarios, such as relationships that have a recent history of severe physical aggression. Other unhealthy relationship dynamics can also hinder rehab for married couples therapy programs, such as codependent couples. In these cases, a more passive partner may find it difficult to speak freely to any providers or become overly focused on the recovery of their partner rather than their own.
Another risk is relapse. If one partner relapses, it might trigger the other to relapse and the risk of relapse is high during the stabilization period. It is important for a person in recovery to be in an environment that is drug-free so if one partner isn’t fully committed to recovery and sobriety, it can harm both people.
Some couples struggle with addiction treatment together because some facilities focus primarily on addiction issues and not on relationship issues, which can be harmful because some relationship issues can lead couples to feel the desire to continue to pursue their addiction, often leading to continued use if not addressed.
Recovery is also an individualized process and although some couples may benefit from it, if two join in the journey to sobriety together, it is possible for them to end up out of sync with one partner moving more slowly than the other. This can lead to a sense of failure for the person feeling left behind or for a sense of feeling resentful or bogged down toward a spouse struggling. Because of this and other reasons, some rehab experts recommend separate courses of treatment for some couples.
My Recovery Source Is Here to Help With Addiction
Making a decision to pursue rehab for married couples is an important decision and should be an open and honest discussion between both parties. Having a mutual commitment to achieving recovery and supporting one another can make the path of recovery easier to navigate. If you are ready to get help now, reach out to My Recovery Source today for help finding rehab for married couples that can help the two of you heal together, achieving a better life.
