New Year's Eve is a night of the year that painfully reminds us of the unique relationship of loving someone who drinks too much or has substance abuse issues.

Here are four tips that will help make this holiday a little easier:

Be kind and compassionate with yourself.

Don't worry if other people are judging you because of your partner's disease. You are a beautifully created, loving woman. Your self-worth needs to come from God, not your friends or family members. Don't compare your normal with other people's normal. They may not be in love with someone suffering from this disease, but I promise you that their partner is not perfect either.

Walk away.

It might be a good idea if you need to leave the room or leave the party – with or without them. Or, choose to skip the party have a cozy evening in with a great book or your favorite movie and some popcorn. Bottom line: create some distance between you and this disease if you need to.

Do not own their embarrassing behavior.

Do not apologize for your partner's actions and bad behavior. He or she is an adult who needs to make their own apologies. If they are slurring, being inappropriate, or rude, don't make excuses for them. Let the bottom fall out. It might be the best thing that ever happened to them.

Do not lecture them the next morning.

You don't need to remind them of their awful choices. He or she already knows. Yelling or giving the silent treatment the morning after will just make them resent you and make you feel guilty.

You are dignified and courageous. You can and will speak with kindness and strength. And if you feel like you just can't control yourself - leave for an hour or two or make yourself busy with something that brings you joy.

It's okay to let them know if they ask how they behaved the night before. But no amount of shaming or trying to convince them how bad they were will change anything. They know there's a problem - they are just not willing to do anything about it yet.

I know these are difficult steps, but I believe that you can do it! You are not alone and I am here cheering you on! Don't let this disease bring you down. You deserve a fun New Year's Eve - if they are sober or not.

If you haven't joined us in one of our programs and you want to find answers, hope, and happiness, what are you waiting for? Click here to check out the details. Our programs are offered for just $25 a month. If they are spending money on their bad habits, making an investment in your family's future is a better choice, don't you think?