He's done the same thing with depression too. I have been seriously mentally ill, I am usually totally one for believing people, I march and write and go to service user meetings etc. I do actually think he needs to get something sorted out, but the way he does it makes me think that he doesn't believe it himself, and that he is maybe using it as he knows I am likely to be sympathetic.
Ok, so the cycle goes:
Start acting more and more like a dick. Angry outbursts, drinking too much, staying up to the early hours. Slamming doors, shouting. Posting specific descriptions of how he would like members of certain political parties to die on facebook. Flirting and cheating. Telling me what I can and can't do. Pissing in cupboards when drunk. Encouraging the children to ridicule me. Going on and on if I buy something he sees as wasteful (I must buy a new item of clothing about six times a year, if that - most of my clothes have holes in because they were bought from charity and were originally primark. The kids are home educated, and I spend about £20 a month on books and materials. I bought some of those ice grip things for my shoes as I have bad hips and we live in an area that has more snow and ice than I am used to. That kind f thing) whilst smoking 'only' 6 fags a day and getting drunk 'only' 4 or 5 times a week. I am encouraged to drink, though. Spendng that money is fine. Going 'to the shop' or 'for a quick half' for a reason I couldn't possibly question, then comng back pissed after closing time. This is apparently ok, because he says I am allowed to do the same. If I'm in, though, he doesn't see why we should both be trapped in the house...
Things come to a head one way or another. A window was smashed once. Another time I caught him sending erotic facebook messages (he had actually kissed and god knows what else with this woman, but it s the fb messages that hurt, because he could have copied and pasted them from when he was seducing me. They were very specific.)
He cries, and gives a reason. If that time it is alcohol, he will pour all booze in the house down the sink. If it is depression, he will make an emergency appointment and get a prescription for anti depressants. He has also given reasons like his parents being old (they are in their 60s with no serious health issues) or being upset about his last marriage breaking down and how badly he treated his ex wife. He always says how he is an awful man and somehow it turns into me telling him that he isn't.
Short time of him being lovely. Flowers, random declarations of love, no drinking, etc.
Pretty normal life with ups and downs.
Then gradually back to being an arse.