How Opioid Addiction Can Affect Marriage

Opioid addiction can have drastic effects on marriages. One spouse may want to help their partner but may find themselves frustrated and unsure of what to do. Fortunately, many of the negative effects of opioid addiction on a marriage can be addressed before and during treatment. Codependency can occur in any relationship, not just those in which one partner has an addiction. Codependency is an unhealthy relationship characteristic in which one partner puts the well-being of the other partner ahead of themselves, often to their own detriment. The partner who sacrifices themselves seeks the approval and affection of the other partner, and will go to any lengths to get the love they need. Communication can be difficult or even non-existent in a relationship where addiction exists. You may have trouble expressing your needs, or may not want to burden your partner with your problems. You may also have trouble expressing the positives in your partner or the relationship because you are so focused on the addiction. It may be difficult to trust a spouse who lies, hides their addiction or makes promises they don’t follow through on. Trust is something that is earned, and once it’s gone, efforts need to be made to rebuild that trust. You may find yourself wondering if you can ever trust your partner again. Money problems are a big source of stress in relationships. Couples disagree about budgeting, spending and saving. Opioid addiction can create financial issues that can spiral into fights. An opioid addiction doesn’t have to create marital problems. If you identify the issues and address them, you and your partner can have a healthy relationship. Codependency
How to Break the Cycle:
Communication Issues
How to Communicate:
Mistrust
How to Rebuild Trust:
Financial Difficulties
How to Improve Finances:
Additional Reading About Recovery