Episode Details

If you’re struggling to deal with an addict husband, we get it.

We’re here for you. Our Betrayal Trauma Recovery Group Sessions are for women who have done everything they can to fix their marriage, but their addict husband is still causing trouble.

To see if your husband’s addiction causes him to be emotionally abusive, take our free emotional abuse quiz.

And listen (above) to Evangeline’s story to see if you relate, or read the transcript below. You’re not alone.

Transcript: How To Deal With An Addict Husband

Anne: A member of our Betrayal Trauma Recovery Community is on today’s episode. We’re calling her Evangeline. Welcome, Evangeline.

Evangeline: Thank you for talking with me, Anne. I’m so grateful for the Betrayal Trauma Recovery Community.

Anne: Let’s start at the beginning. Can you talk about how you felt about your husband at first?

Evangeline: Ours was like a real romance. I thought I married the man of my dreams, that I earned and deserved this as a good Christian girl and woman. I was in love, head over heels in love. He checked all the boxes. He had faith, honored and respected me, and did many thoughtful gestures.

Anne: Back then, did you notice anything a bit off, and how did you define that?

Evangeline: There were moments. I suspected he may be an addict early on and thought he acted out in his “addiction” in isolated moments. Like, just a few times a year. He’d apologize and say it wouldn’t happen again.

I never told anyone because it was infrequent. I just thought he’s growing up, he’s figuring it out. As long as it doesn’t get any worse, I’m going to be okay. We’re going to be okay.

How To Deal With An Addict Husband When He Lies

Evangeline: He introduced pornography into our marriage. I said, no, I didn’t like that. I became uncomfortable.

He’s telling me he’s watching pornography to learn how to be a better husband. How to maybe be a better lover or to be more educated.

Anne: A flat out lie. He’s constantly on his phone, watching it.

Evangeline: Totally. It didn’t help him be a “better” anything. I found infidelity 15 to 20 years into my marriage. The reality was, I can’t tell you how many incidences. I lived in fear. There is no way to deal with this when your husband says he’s an addict.

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