The "Home Treatment": The First Steps in Trying to Cope with an Alcoholic Husband

Findings indicate that long before the husband seeks professional help, his wife is attempting to treat his alcoholism at home through a sequence of strategies which reflect her changing beliefs about the nature of alcoholism, her assessment of her current relationship with her husband, and her reaction to the failure of her most recent attempt to cope with this problem.

Abstract

Seventy-six wives of alcoholics were interviewed in depth concerning how they acted once they were certain their husbands had a drinking problem. Findings indicate that long before the husband seeks professional help, his wife is attempting to treat his alcoholism at home through a sequence of strategies which reflect her changing beliefs about the nature of alcoholism, her assessment of her current relationship with her husband, and her reaction to the failure of her most recent attempt to cope with this problem. Some of these wives' unsuccessful attempts at home treatment may be the behavior which professionals often view as pathological. Additionally, the home treatment represents strategies of amelioration under stress which probably contribute to such stress as well.