Drinking and Driving: The Boundaries You Need

The Love Over Addiction Secret Facebook Group is filled with women who are some of the most loving and encouraging women I've ever meet. We are a sisterhood who is bonded together by the fact that we love someone suffering with addiction. This disease can do a really good job of keeping us isolated and alone.  But there is something so healing and powerful when you're surrounded by a group of women ready and willing to lift you up when you need it the most. One of those women asked a great question that I wanted to share with you because I think so many of you can relate.   Q: How do I protect myself when he chooses to drink and drive? I'm afraid he will get into an accident and hurt/kill someone else and therefore everything I have worked for will be taken by his bad choice. How can I approach my husband and let him know that I would like to drive without him getting angry and defensive?   Can you relate to this?  Does the one you love drink and drive?  Are you worried about the legal consequences if they get into an accident?  Are you looking for ways to avoid driving with them after they've had a few drinks? Here's my answer. We go into this in greater details in the Love Over Addiction and the Love Over Mistakes program.  The truth is you should NEVER get in the car with someone who has been drinking.  That is a boundary you need to have in place for your safety. Even if that means that he gets mad at you - you must not get in the car. Here's something you can say when he's sober and has not been drinking: "I love you but I can't get in the car if you've been drinking.  It scares me.  If you're planning on drinking, I would like the keys to the car. Can we agree on that?" Then, if he agrees but refuses to give you the keys - have the Uber or Lyft app already loaded on your phone and ready to call.  If you don't have Uber or Lyft - call a friend.  But don't get in that car.  This is a healthy and safe boundary. You need to protect your safety.  If he wants to risk his life - there's nothing you can do - but you get to choose to protect yours.   As for finances and protecting marital assets, we cover that in the Love Over Boundaries program.  There are a lot of steps you can take to prevent yourself from losing everything and if we want to get control over this disease - we must learn how to protect ourselves.  I hope you'll consider joining me in one of the programs.