Does Sobriety Stop Domestic Abuse?
Hoping that any form of domestic abuse will stop once your spouse stops using alcohol is unfortunately wishful thinking. You might think that they are only violent once they are drunk but look past this and you will begin to realise that even when they are sober, the abuse will continue.
Alcohol abusers who remain sober might stop physically abusing their loved one for a while but the emotional abuse will continue.
This emotional abuse might not even last, as once the abuser feels as if it’s not enough, they may return to their physically abusive ways.
Abusers may even use their sobriety to control their loved ones. For example, threatening to use alcohol again if things don’t go the way they want it to.
The only way to see change is to approach alcohol abuse and domestic violence as two separate things instead of one individual problem. If not, once the alcohol abuse has been sorted out, you’ll still be left with the domestic violence problem.
Below are some questions that you should ask yourself about the connection between alcohol abuse and domestic abuse:
When your spouse is under the influence of alcohol, is he or she just abusive to you or anyone in general?
Can you see a pattern in their alcohol abuse and domestic abuse? (For example, does it happen when you have loved ones over or after a disagreement?)
Does your loved one think that their alcohol abuse is the cause for their abusive behaviour?
Have you spoken to your loved one about their alcoholic and violent behaviour? Do they begin to take active steps to getting help or do they simply apologise each time?
Does your spouse physically or emotionally abuse you even when they are sober?
If your answers go against what was mentioned in these two articles, then it’s important to get professional help.
We provide access to the best private alcohol abuse centres all over South Africa, the United Kingdom and Thailand. In clinics, alcohol abusers will go through various types of counselling and therapy such as individual counselling and 12-step group therapy, which educate them about their problem and what they can do to stay away from alcohol.