How Alcoholism affects a Marriage

Alcohol can affect a marriage through Violence by the Alcoholic Spouse: Violence is less common than verbal abuse by the alcoholic spouse, but violent acts towards the non-using spouse has serious consequences for all concerned.

Non-existent communication between the couple: As the alcoholism and the drinking escalate, arguments become more common and resentments build up. The alcoholic will present his or her spouse's attempts to interfere with their drinking. The non-drinking spouse resents the alcoholic's inability to stop drinking. These resentments build up and will cause communication to break down.

Economic Problems: As the alcoholism in the drinking spouse becomes more advanced, the alcoholic may not be able to continue to fulfill responsibilities as in the past. Alcohol addiction results in drinking becoming the priority and this can result in job loss or sporadic employment at best, due to illness, hangovers, or drinking during working hours (or a worst case scenario - drinking around the clock).The job loss results in financial instability, putting further stress on the marriage.

Since alcohol removes inhibitions in the practicing alcoholic, the alcoholic may become more likely to be involved in a situation involving infidelity due to impaired judgment. The non-drinking spouse may become alienated from the drinking spouse and seek the company of a member of the opposite sex somewhere else.