Alcoholism doesn’t just damage the body and mind—it also takes a toll on a person’s most important relationships. Some people call alcoholism a “family disease,” not only because it tends to run in families but also because one person’s addiction affects their entire family.
By taking an online drug and alcohol course, you can learn in detail the negative impact alcoholism has on spouses, children, and other family members. However, here are the basics that everyone should know:
Broken Trust
All relationships are built on trust. Unfortunately, alcoholics tend to be in denial about their disease, minimize the issues it causes, and lie to conceal their drinking. Furthermore, the impulse to drink may cause them to forget about plans or show up to occasions incapacitated. Over time, these actions deteriorate trust between family members and even breed resentment.
Financial Trouble
Excessive drinking can be a major drain on a family’s budget. However, the potential for financial trouble doesn’t end there. As you’ll likely learn from any online drug and alcohol course, the legal fines, legal fees, and auto insurance increases from a DUI arrest cost thousands of dollars—and the cost soars if anyone was hurt in an accident or a vehicle was damaged. Plus, job loss due to drinking can have a devastating impact on a family.
Domestic Abuse
Alcoholism adds fuel to the fire of any relationship stressors, like financial difficulties, childcare issues, and simple miscommunication, making it more likely for emotional abuse to occur. Unfortunately, drinking problems are also associated with intimate partner violence because they reduce self-control and disrupt critical thinking.