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Wife's Excessive Drinking: Husband Seeks Advice

Dr Hemalata

Dr Hemalata Arora  | Answer  |Ask -

General Physician - Answered on May 02, 2024

Dr Hemalata Arora is a senior consultant who practises internal medicine at Mumbai’s Nanavati Max Super Speciality Hospital.
In a career spanning over 24 years, she has focused on managing infectious diseases, critical illnesses and lifestyle disorders.
Dr Arora completed her MBBS and MD from the King Edward Memorial Hospital and Seth Gordhandas Sunderdas Medical College in Mumbai.
She is ECFMG certified, accredited by the American Board of Internal Medicine, Diplomate of the National Board and a DNB faculty.
She was honoured with the Paul Bunn award for her promising performance in the field of infectious diseases at SUNY Upstate Medical University, New York.... more
Rajesh Question by Rajesh on May 01, 2024Hindi
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Hello I am 46 year old and married since last 21 years and one son age 20. My problem is when I m away from for job and other reason. My wife takes excessive liquor day and night. all of our family members tried to advise her to stop her but she is sinking. she is very much addictive to this. Due to this my son is getting affected in his studies. We all are confused and distrubed. what should we do.

Ans: She will need urgent intervention. Possibly a rehab program. Can you first have her see a psychiatrist perhaps? Sometimes these addictive behaviours stem from underlying anxiety or depression.
DISCLAIMER: The answer provided by rediffGURUS is for informational and general awareness purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical diagnosis or treatment.
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Love Guru

Love Guru   |217 Answers  |Ask -

Relationships Expert - Answered on Dec 10, 2021

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Dear Guruji, Boss, I had a drinking problem. Wife refused sex till alcohol issue solved. For a year now, have not touched a drop. I swear on my mother. She is still refusing intimacy in bed. Or anywhere. I kept my end of the deal. She has not. We never had any problems in our marriage till I started increasing my drinking. Now I feel like going back to drinking. Need your help. Thank you, Tejbir Kohli
Ans:

That does sound unfair, Tejbir.

I think you need couples's therapy.

Your marriage has obviously been through a lot, what with your former drinking problem and your wife denying you any form of intimacy.

Please don't hit the bottle again; visit a therapist instead. 

 

Hi Love Guru,
My husband always watching porn stuff.
Too much.
Porn not getting translated to real life action.
Can’t too much porn be an addiction?
I am afraid one of my daughters might see him watching.
Need your guidance.
Fatima Zaidi

Dear Fatima,

A lot of people watch porn, but an addiction is a different matter.

It's when one cannot stop watching and does so every chance s/he gets, even in risky environments like the workplace or when one's family is around.

Explain to your husband that you think that this is getting out of hand and that you're worried for both his mental wellbeing as well as your children's exposure to porn.

He needs to be discreet and also ensure that it's not getting out of hand.

Such an obsession is not healthy.

Moreover, do you have a good sex life? Maybe if you're more adventurous with him in the bedroom he may not feel the need to rely quite so much on watching sex instead of having it!

..Read more

Anu

Anu Krishna  |1794 Answers  |Ask -

Relationships Expert, Mind Coach - Answered on Feb 23, 2022

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 I came across while casually going through the news feed on my phone. I am 43 years old married for 20+ years and have an adult kid and a teenager (both boys). My problem is that me and my husband have been arguing tooooo much nowadays on his alcohol issue. Even though he is not a daily drinker or excessive one, per his doctor's advise he should not be drinking. He tends to make promises which he never keeps regarding the same issue. Ours was an arranged marriage and we had our 1st kid on our 1st anniversary and 2nd kids 4 years later.Now even the elder son has started to question his dad about not keeping promises to which my husband says that as a son he doesn't need to tell him how a father has to live and what he has to do. Now my kids have lost trust on their father and I have lost trust on him long back. I have come to a point where I am in the relationship only for the kids as I am unemployed and cannot take care of the kids only own with financial support from him. I have confronted him multiple times to stop drinking or seek medical help if need to stop, but he is adamant that he will not stop. I am now worried if the father son's relationship will get into a turmoil cos I don't want my boys to grow up with out a father. I am at a crossroad as to how to continue with life from here on. It would be helpful and kind of you if u can suggest me something to help convince my husband to abandon alcohol and save the family's peace and happiness.
Ans:

Dear L, I can only imagine what this must be for you. But don’t lose heart. Is there any reason that pushed him to taking to drinking?

Alcohol can make a person who he/she isn’t. What is said and what is to be done, can be forgotten with consistent drinking and the effects it has on the body and mind.

If he is drinking despite doctor’s warnings and it has begun to erode your relationships, either ask an elderly family member to talk to him (preferably a male member) or please seek professional help.

Whatever it is, at home, none of the members must taunt him or nag him or repeatedly talk about his mistakes or his lack of commitment.

This will only push him further away and back into his easy stress buster which is alcohol. Be patient and loving and keep your mind focused on his healing and coming back into the family as a changed person.

Wishing you the best!

..Read more

Dr Ashish

Dr Ashish Sehgal  | Answer  |Ask -

Relationships Expert, Mind Coach - Answered on Mar 16, 2023

Asked by Anonymous - Feb 21, 2023Hindi
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I’m 41 male, married for last 15 years and have 1 kid. We were in a relationship and got married I love my wife and she also loves me a lot. We live in a joint family ,my wife is an alcoholic and for the same i ready apply divorce 3 time but due to my son i always gave her chance to change her self, but its high time now i apply 4 th time divorce, m i right or wrong??
Ans: I'm sorry to hear that you and your wife are going through such a difficult time. Dealing with addiction can be challenging for both the individual struggling with it and their loved ones. It's important to recognize that addiction is a disease and requires professional help and support to overcome.

Divorce is a serious decision and should not be taken lightly. It's important to consider all of the factors involved and to seek professional guidance before making any decisions. It sounds like you have tried to work through your wife's addiction for a long time and have given her multiple chances to change, but have not seen the results you were hoping for.

If you have exhausted all options and feel that divorce is the best course of action for you and your son, then you are entitled to make that decision. However, it's important to consider the impact that divorce may have on your son and to make sure that he is receiving the support and care that he needs during this difficult time.

I would encourage you to seek the guidance of a professional counselor or therapist to help you navigate this difficult decision and to explore all of your options. They can provide you with the support and guidance you need to make the best decision for yourself and your family.

..Read more

Anu

Anu Krishna  |1794 Answers  |Ask -

Relationships Expert, Mind Coach - Answered on Dec 16, 2023

Asked by Anonymous - Nov 09, 2023Hindi
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Dear Madam, i am 49 and married with 2 kids (10th standard and 8th standard), my problem started we move to india and settled near my mother/sister-law and there is lot influence things happened alast 2 year and also i have drinking habit which i have overcome by attenting rehibition, but last 8 month i am staying with mother house due my health and now i ok, but every time last 3 months i asking my wife can we staying together but no proper answer and she away most of time on spiritualty, even i allow her go but she is not inform were about even after 20 phone call that triggers me and i drink and make my life diffocult myself, recently i have asked move alone with me and kids but again blaming for all the past thing, due to this i have flight my parents and brother which not keep peace to them....i am really confused and what stage they will expect me i know sure..please let me know any suggestion
Ans: Dear Anonymous,
Your drinking is the main reason why your wife cannot trust you again. Rebuilding that trust is going to take a lot of time and patience, Simply by saying that All is Well, let's move back together is not going to help.
Use this time of separation to rebuild that trust. Visit your children often and be the father that they didn't have earlier...be the husband that you were not earlier.
Actions speak louder than words...so, now focus on what you can do for your family that will make them want you back into their lives and this can definitely happen when you are staying away from them.
Allow them to slowly notice the changes in you and they will on their own accept you back...
A lot of work to be done...but anything for the family, right?

All the best!

..Read more

Dr Hemalata

Dr Hemalata Arora  | Answer  |Ask -

General Physician - Answered on May 02, 2024

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Kanchan

Kanchan Rai  |663 Answers  |Ask -

Relationships Expert, Mind Coach - Answered on Apr 26, 2026

Asked by Anonymous - Apr 06, 2026Hindi
Relationship
Hi, I love both my parents and my boyfriend. But my parents just cant seem to accept the fact that i have a boyfriend. At almost every stage in life, be it career, relationships, i am standing at the line and choosing whether i should choose myself and do what i want to do or should i choose what my parents say. I know they mean well for me and they want my good, but is it always have to be that way? Why do i always have to choose? I am sick and tired of hiding things from my parents but if i don't, they will intrude in my life and then everything goes haywire. is it too much too ask for acceptance? and even if i choose myself at any given time, there is this guilt of disobeying my parents that eats me alive. I am really at the threshold here.
Ans: You don’t actually want to choose between your parents and your boyfriend.
You want both love and autonomy. And that is a fair need.
The reason it feels so heavy is because you’ve been conditioned to believe that choosing yourself means hurting your parents. So even when you do something right for your life, it comes with guilt.
But here’s the shift you need to make:
You’re not choosing against your parents.
You’re choosing for your life.
Right now, hiding is draining you because it keeps you stuck in fear. But being fully open without boundaries leads to interference. So the balance is this:
Be honest, but don’t hand over control.
You can say:
“I respect your opinion, but I need to make my own decisions about my life.”
They may not like it immediately. They may react emotionally. That doesn’t mean you’re wrong—it just means they’re adjusting.
The real work for you is learning to sit with that guilt without giving in to it. Because that guilt is not a signal that you’re doing something wrong—it’s a sign that you’re doing something new.
You don’t have to stop loving your parents.
You just have to stop losing yourself to keep them comfortable.
That’s the line you’re learning to walk right now.

...Read more

Kanchan

Kanchan Rai  |663 Answers  |Ask -

Relationships Expert, Mind Coach - Answered on Apr 26, 2026

Asked by Anonymous - Apr 26, 2026Hindi
Relationship
I miss privacy after marriage. I moved in to my husband's house after our marriage last year. But but adjusting to a joint family has been harder than I expected. There is always someone around so I have to dress appropriately. Relatives walk into our bedroom without knocking. Their rules are very different from ours. I have grown up with a lot of independence in what I wear, eat etc. Here, I have to cook at least one meal, sometimes for unexpected guests and compromise over what I eat. I moved in hoping to live with and love his family, but this lack of personal space and independence is making me irritable and anxious. Our thoughts and principles don't match. My husband has taken a huge loan to buy this house, so he will not agree to move out. How do I talk to my husband about how I feel trapped here?
Ans: What you’re experiencing feels overwhelming because it’s new to you, not because it is “wrong” in itself. In many joint families, things like shared spaces, open movement in the house, less privacy, and collective responsibilities are quite normal. People grow up with that system, so for them it doesn’t feel intrusive—it feels like family closeness.
At the same time, you come from a background where privacy, independence, and personal boundaries were natural, so the contrast feels like a loss. Both realities are valid. Neither is completely right or wrong—they are just different value systems.

This is also something that ideally should be discussed before marriage, but since it wasn’t, you are now learning and adjusting in real time—which is understandably difficult.

Now the goal is not to reject the joint family system or force yourself to accept everything silently. The goal is to find a middle ground where you can function without losing yourself.

When you talk to your husband, acknowledge his reality too. That will make him more open to hearing you. You can say something like:
“I understand this is how your family has always lived, and I respect that. But for me this is very new, and I’m struggling to adjust to the lack of personal space. I don’t want to disrespect anyone, but I also need some space to feel comfortable.”

This way, you are not attacking his family—you are explaining your adjustment challenge.

Also, instead of expecting a complete change, focus on small, realistic adjustments:
A basic level of privacy in your room (like knocking)
Some flexibility in daily expectations
Clear communication about responsibilities

In joint families, change usually doesn’t happen suddenly—it happens gradually and through understanding, not confrontation.

And one important mindset shift for you:
Adjustment doesn’t mean losing yourself completely.
But it also doesn’t mean expecting the environment to become exactly like your old life.

You are now learning how to live between two worlds.

If both you and your husband handle this with patience and respect, it can become manageable. If either side becomes rigid, then it starts feeling like suffocation.

So your task is not to “fit in perfectly,”
but to adapt without disappearing.

...Read more

Kanchan

Kanchan Rai  |663 Answers  |Ask -

Relationships Expert, Mind Coach - Answered on Apr 26, 2026

Asked by Anonymous - Mar 12, 2026Hindi
Relationship
I am 38 year old female and my husband 39 yrs old . We got married 13 years before and we were in 10 years love relationship before marriage . Totally 23 years together .we have 2 sons , 1 is 10 yr old and 2 is 1.5 yr old . My husband is not interested or he is not getting any sexual sense at all. It’s been 2 years he didn’t touch me , he says his mind is not thinking about it and not getting any sensation . 2 years before , we had issues about his relationship with a women , he says its friendship and few instances has broken my trust and he hasn’t regained it back or never tried to fix it . He says in words but never saw his efforts to make me trust again . For 2 years am in mental trauma and confusion only whether he is saying truth or not , whether that women is friend or different . Whether he s cheating me or not . Very few activites gives me doubts to think that he s cheating rest all he s normal , goes for work and come home ... We are sleeping is same bed now for past 1.5 years after my second day. Born . Some time he sleeps with me in bed cuddling and kissing .. but nothing is intimate and nothing feels closer emotionally to him ... I dunno wat to do with him . I get w dual desire often and get rejected by him and all th time he blames me or underrate me to talk about sex . Also he scolds me that am having more sexual thoughts . I dunno what to do as if I talk calmly. He takes it to peak , if I demand , he rejects . Watever I try he rejects .. never gave a proper reason .... I dunno how to live like this ??
Ans: First, let me say this clearly: your desire is normal. Wanting intimacy, closeness, and a sexual connection with your husband is not “too much” or “wrong.” Being repeatedly rejected and then blamed for it can slowly damage your self-worth, and that’s what you’re feeling now.
But we need to separate a few things to understand what’s really happening.
Your husband’s lack of sexual interest for 2 years is not something to ignore. It could be due to multiple reasons—stress, hormonal changes, mental health issues, guilt, unresolved emotional conflict, or even disconnection from the relationship itself. But the real concern is not just the lack of sex—it’s that he avoids the conversation, shuts you down, and turns it back on you.
That creates a cycle where:
You feel rejected → you try to connect → he withdraws or blames → you feel worse → trust breaks further.
On top of this, there is unresolved trust damage from his past involvement with another woman. Even if he calls it “friendship,” the fact that it broke your trust and was never repaired properly means that wound is still open. Without rebuilding trust, emotional closeness cannot return—and without emotional closeness, physical intimacy often disappears.
Right now, you are living in three layers of pain:
You feel unwanted physically
You feel unsure emotionally
You feel unheard when you try to talk
That’s why it feels like you’re stuck.
Now, what can you realistically do?
You cannot force desire.
You cannot beg for intimacy.
And you cannot rebuild trust alone.
But you can change how you approach this.
Instead of focusing only on sex, shift the conversation to the relationship itself. At a calm moment, not during rejection, speak very directly but without blame:
“I am not just missing physical intimacy. I am feeling emotionally disconnected, rejected, and confused. I don’t want to fight, I want to understand what is happening between us.”
Watch his response carefully. Not just words, but willingness.
If he continues to deny, blame, or avoid, then this is no longer just a “sexual issue.” It becomes a relationship issue that requires intervention.
At this stage, a mature step would be to suggest couples counseling or medical evaluation. Frame it as “us” not “you.”
Because if he truly has no desire at all, he should be open to understanding why.
And if he refuses even that, then you have to face a difficult truth:
You are trying to sustain a relationship where your needs are consistently dismissed.
Also, gently reflect on something important:
Do you feel emotionally safe with him anymore, or are you constantly second-guessing and shrinking yourself?
Because intimacy doesn’t return in an environment of doubt, fear, and blame.
You have given 23 years to this relationship.
You deserve clarity, respect, and emotional connection—not confusion and rejection.
You don’t need to decide everything today.
But you do need to stop normalising this pain.

...Read more

Kanchan

Kanchan Rai  |663 Answers  |Ask -

Relationships Expert, Mind Coach - Answered on Apr 26, 2026

Asked by Anonymous - Mar 19, 2026Hindi
Relationship
I am in love with a 42 yr old woman. She is a divorcee with a teenage daughter. We plan to get married by the end of this year. The one disagreement we have is about kids. She feels she is too old to have another kid. How do I convince her that age has nothing to do if you are healthy and fit to be a parent?
Ans: This is not a topic where one partner “wins” the argument. Having a child, especially at 42, is not just about willingness—it’s about her body, her health, her energy, and her life stage. Age does matter medically and practically. Pregnancy at 42 carries higher risks, and even if someone is fit, it is still a more demanding journey physically and emotionally.
So if she is saying she doesn’t want a child, she is not being negative—she is being realistic and self-aware.
Now the real question is not “how do I convince her,” but
can you accept her decision if it doesn’t change?
Because this is a fundamental life choice. If you want a child strongly and she does not, this difference won’t disappear after marriage—it will grow.
Instead of convincing, have a mature conversation:
Tell her honestly why having a child matters to you—not as pressure, but as a life desire. Then listen to her reasons fully—without trying to counter them. Ask her what she fears, what she has already considered, and what her limits are.
There are also middle paths you can explore together—like medical consultation to understand real risks, or even alternatives like adoption. But these should come from mutual agreement, not persuasion.
Love is not about changing someone on such a fundamental decision.
It is about asking: can we build a life together as we are?
If you can accept a future without a child with her, then move forward.
If you cannot, it’s better to face that truth now rather than after marriage.

...Read more

Kanchan

Kanchan Rai  |663 Answers  |Ask -

Relationships Expert, Mind Coach - Answered on Apr 26, 2026

Kanchan

Kanchan Rai  |663 Answers  |Ask -

Relationships Expert, Mind Coach - Answered on Apr 26, 2026

Asked by Anonymous - Feb 09, 2026Hindi
Relationship
Hi Maam, My married life has been a complete disasterits been 1.8 yrs. Before marriage, I had only one past relationship. My husband repeatedly asked if I had any physical relationship before marriage. I denied it initially, and when I asked him about his past, he vaguely said he had dated three women for about three months each. Whenever I asked directly about physical involvement or even something as simple as kissing, he avoided the topic or changed the subject. On the first day of our arranged marriage, after intimacy, he said something that confused me. I was already scared and anxious. Later, when he asked me to share something I had never told anyone, I told him the truth—that my past relationship involved physical intimacy, and that it was forced, not by my choice. After that, his behavior completely changed. He stopped talking to me, even during our honeymoon. We were intimate only twice, but emotionally he was completely absent. I cried constantly. After returning home, he started avoiding me, leaving the house despite working from home. He verbally abused me, made derogatory comments about my character, and threatened to tell my parents and divorce me, accusing me of hiding my past. He even went on a Europe trip alone for 15 days, barely contacting me, which made me fear he was cheating. Due to constant fights and emotional abuse, I started looking into his past and discovered disturbing things—multiple physical relationships (8–9), emails linked to prostitutes, a banned Tinder account he tried to restore even after our engagement, and trips with an ex just days before our engagement. He called her “just a friend,” but the evidence said otherwise. I also found intimate photos and videos of his exes saved on his hard disk, even though they were many years old. Despite all this, he continued to accuse and defame me in front of his parents, saying I lied about my past, while he had never disclosed his own. What I saw and experienced has deeply scarred me, and I feel he never had any emotional attachment to me from the beginning. Ever since I told him the truth, he has shown no care, no empathy, and no love. I am left questioning—was I wrong to look into his past when I was being emotionally abused and accused? Or is he simply not the right person for me, someone who lacks emotional maturity, honesty, and compassion?
Ans: What you have described is not a small marital conflict—it is a serious breach of trust, emotional safety, and dignity.
Let’s look at this with clarity, not emotion alone.
You entered this marriage with hesitation, fear, and eventually honesty. You disclosed something deeply personal, and importantly, something that involved lack of consent. In a healthy partnership, that moment should have been met with empathy, protection, and maturity. Instead, it was met with judgment, withdrawal, and later, humiliation. That is not a difference of opinion—that is a failure of emotional responsibility.
At the same time, your husband’s conduct shows a clear pattern of double standards. He withheld his own past, avoided transparency, and yet demanded complete disclosure from you. When he later accused and defamed you, despite his own undisclosed history, it indicates not confusion but control and moral inconsistency.
Your decision to look into his past did not arise in isolation. It came after sustained emotional distress, repeated accusations, and a breakdown of trust. In such circumstances, people seek evidence not out of curiosity, but out of a need to anchor themselves in reality. So no, it was not ideal—but it was understandable. More importantly, it is not the central issue.
The central issue is this:
You are in a relationship where your vulnerability has been used against you, your character has been questioned, and your emotional needs have been consistently disregarded.
Also note his behavioral responses—avoidance, verbal aggression, solo travel without communication, maintaining explicit material from past relationships, and involving his parents in a way that damages your dignity. These are not isolated incidents. They reflect emotional immaturity, lack of accountability, and poor boundaries.
So the real question is not “Was I wrong?”
The real question is: Is this a relationship that offers mutual respect, psychological safety, and the possibility of repair?
Marriage can survive difficult truths, even past experiences—but only when both partners are willing to engage with honesty, empathy, and accountability. At present, there is no indication that he is willing to do that.
Before taking any decision, it would be wise to step back and stabilise yourself emotionally. Consider individual counselling, not to fix the marriage, but to regain clarity and strength. If there is any attempt to continue this relationship, it must involve structured intervention—such as couples therapy—with clear expectations around respect, truthfulness, and boundaries.
But equally, you must allow yourself to acknowledge a difficult possibility:
Sometimes, the issue is not what went wrong in the marriage.
It is whether the person you are with is capable of sustaining a healthy one.
You were not wrong for having a past.
You were not wrong for telling the truth.
And you are not wrong for expecting dignity in your marriage.

...Read more

DISCLAIMER: The content of this post by the expert is the personal view of the rediffGURU. Investment in securities market are subject to market risks. Read all the related document carefully before investing. The securities quoted are for illustration only and are not recommendatory. Users are advised to pursue the information provided by the rediffGURU only as a source of information and as a point of reference and to rely on their own judgement when making a decision. RediffGURUS is an intermediary as per India's Information Technology Act.

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