I think my husband may have a drinking problem. What do I do?

Being married to a person who is abusing alcohol can be emotionally devastating. Knowing what to do can elude you, leaving you feeling alone and isolated. You want to protect your husband, and family, from the whispers and stares. But more importantly, you want to save him from the physical devastation the alcohol abuse is likely causing to the health of his heart, kidneys, liver, and brain.

So you tiptoe around the issue.

You make excuses—to yourself, your kids . . . anyone who might be paying too close attention.

Your dad’s under a lot of pressure at work.

I should be doing more to help out, to make home a nicer place for him to be.

He doesn’t mean to take it out on us.

The first step to recovery is the admittance of a problem to be fixed—by all involved parties. Until the thought, “He has an illness,” can be voiced, nothing will change.

Alcoholism can have a severe impact on your family and your relationships. Men are at higher risk for alcoholism, contributing to the fact that a large portion of violent crimes, from domestic abuse to rape and assault, involve alcohol use by the perpetrator. Recent statistics have shown that one in ten working-age Americans die directly because of alcoholism.

Alcohol rehab can help rid the substance abuse problem poisoning your family.

When struggling with alcohol dependency, it’s nearly impossible to combat it alone. Outside help is needed and it is okay to ask for it. Many people think they can tackle alcoholism on their own, but it wouldn’t be an addiction if you could easily stop it. Depending on your level of addiction, trying to quit drinking without rehab can put your life in danger. Detox from long-term alcohol abuse without the right medical supervision is hazardous.

Finding a quality rehab program can help your husband detox from alcohol, work through his addiction issues in therapy, and rebuild a sober life.

Let Banyan Treatment Center help your family recover happiness.