Lexington, KY – SUN Behavioral Health Kentucky, a local intensive outpatient provider, recently published a blog post that shed light on the connection between an alcohol use disorder and codependency in relationships. Someone with an alcohol use disorder often has a difficult time controlling their alcohol consumption, and they might be more likely to engage in activities like binge or heavy drinking. Binge drinking is how much someone drinks in one sitting (4 for women and 5 for men), while heavy drinking is the amount of drinks during a week (8 for women and 15 for men). Other common signs that someone might have an alcohol use disorder are drinking more than intended, drinking habits resulting in conflict with their family and friends, giving up previously enjoyed activities to drink alcohol, and having intense withdrawal symptoms when not drinking.
“When one person has an alcohol use disorder, and their partner has codependency, it may result in the person with an alcohol use disorder relying on, and potentially taking advantage of, their codependent partner. Since their codependent partner will often care for them and cover for mistakes from the person with an alcohol use disorder, the person with an alcohol use disorder might not be able to see that there are consequences to their actions,” the blog post states.
Codependency is an unhealthy relationship where one person has an unhealthy attachment to the other person. They often feel this need to attend to help their partner while ignoring their own needs. When the non-codependent partner gets in trouble at work or with the law, the codependent person will come up with an excuse or bail them out. Most commonly, codependency occurs when the other partner has a physical illness, a substance use disorder like an alcohol use disorder, or depression, but it can also happen generally. The codependent partner might feel satisfied by caring for their partner. However, these relationships are unbalanced, leaving the codependent partner feeling burnt out and like they no longer know who they are anymore.
The blog post continues by explaining how there are few signs to know if someone is codependent if they aren’t sure. They might want to try to save their partner from themselves or think they can change them. Others might believe that self-care is selfish and that they don’t have a space that feels like theirs. Being separated from their partner is something they don’t like, and if they haven’t heard from them in some time, they might have feelings of intense anxiety.
Healthy relationships are a balance of giving and taking equally between both partners. In the case of someone having codependency and the other having an alcohol use disorder, the codependent partner is responsible for everything that is associated with the relationship. Someone with an alcohol use disorder is only focused on alcohol, and they might feed on their codependent partner’s desire to help them. This often results in the codependent partner enabling them to continue to drink.
There are ways to help someone with an alcohol use disorder without enabling them, as outlined by the blog post. This might look like offering them a ride to a treatment facility instead of the bar or establishing boundaries to ensure they are taken care of first before their partner with an alcohol use disorder. If being with their partner with an alcohol use disorder puts them in danger, it is okay to leave them, as it doesn’t mean that they do not love the person. It simply means they are doing what is essential to care for themselves.
“The good news is that an alcohol use disorder is not the end of the road. Recovery is always possible – from both alcohol use disorder and codependency. Remember that asking for help never means that you have failed, and it reflects your inner strength to form lasting foundations that will carry you throughout your recovery journey,” the blog post continues.
At SUN Behavioral Health Kentucky, they solve the unmet needs of adults and adolescents in Lexington through outpatient services. Sometimes, an alcohol use disorder co-occurs with a mental health disorder, and SUN Behavioral Health provides treatment for both, eliminating potential complications during recovery. Their no-cost care assessments allow them to work with potential patients and doctors to determine the best treatment plan for their unique needs.
To learn more about them, visit their website or call them at 850-429-5188. SUN Behavioral Health solves unmet needs.
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For more information about SUN Behavioral Kentucky, contact the company here:
SUN Behavioral Kentucky
Cristi Mcalister
513-880-8217
info@sunkentucky.com
820 Dolwick Drive
Erlanger, Kentucky 41018
