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Alcohol support

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Is your alcoholic DP/DH like this?

22 replies

LittleBlueLadenDownWithDew · 12/10/2022 16:05

DP was working last night. Finished at 6am, stayed up until 830am drinking. Came to bed and he started making plans for something he wanted to do to the house on Friday. I explained quite reasonably why said plans weren't a good idea. He got very snappy and growled "well it's happening, get used to it". I asked why he was being so rude, and he replied "because you're so annoying". I became upset and told him he was being unpleasant and that it wasn't necessary. I said that he wouldn't speak to anyone at work like that and it's always me that gets the nastiness from him despite me doing so much for him. He exploded and started shouting about how I do very little for him except the occasional back scratch. I told him this was rubbish and listed all the things I do (eg the housework, the majority of the childcare, mental load and basically allowing him to stay up 2/3 nights drinking every week then lazing in bed the next day).
I asked him what more exactly he wanted me to do. He didn't reply. I asked him " do you really think I do nothing?" He then screamed at me to fuck off and to get the fuck out of the room. He messages a minute later to apologise for swearing but I "really need to stop pushing him". I normally never retaliate when he's rude and admittedly my timing was shit after he had finished a night shift but I was so sick of always taking his nastiness. I then sat downstairs and began to doubt myself thinking "do I do enough". He works FT and I dropped my hours to PT after DD arrived. We're both shift workers As aforementioned, I do most of the housework but he'll often criticise it. He will also do housework but mostly only when he's staying up to drink or he'll do housework in the morning in order to justify drinking later. Despite working FT he will drink anything between 2-3litres of vodka a week. After much ruminating if I do enough for him, me being the pathetic little woman I am, I go to the shops and get him a pile of his favourite snacks and a small bottle of vodka as a peace offering. I know how disgusting and desperate this sounds but I've really started to doubt myself. I know I shouldn't enable his drinking but he would be even worse to be around if I didn't. I know thecadvice will be to LTB and that will have to happen at some point, but for various reasons it's not feasible at the min. I suppose I'm looking for solidarity and similar tales as opposed to advice for now.

OP posts:
Wolfiefan · 12/10/2022 16:07

You need to find a way to make it feasible. ASAP. My dad was an alcoholic. It was awful to grow up with.

VatofTea · 12/10/2022 16:11

Walking on eggshells.

He is a madman, get professional help, he sounds horrible. Don't degrade yourself any further or argue with him.

Begoniasforever · 12/10/2022 16:13

I go to the shops and get him a pile of his favourite snacks and a small bottle of vodka as a peace offering

god that’s so sad and disturbing. What a dysfunctional life. There is a child in this, you Both need to think of her, it’s horrific she’s living in this.

youtwoandme · 12/10/2022 16:15

Oh OP please give us more information as to why it's "not feasible at the moment" to leave him, someone maybe able to offer advice that makes it feasible. Think of your child, this is no environment for her, even if she's not being directly exposed to it, it will find a way to affect her eventually.

isthismylifenow · 12/10/2022 16:17

I agree, I think you need to start to get things in place to make it feasible OP. You have a small child now and you will have to hold it together for you and for DC.

No more peace offerings. Start backing off until you can make the move.

LittleBlueLadenDownWithDew · 12/10/2022 16:19

Just reading back over my previous spiel. I think what im trying to ask is "is anyone else with an alcoholic who is completely blind to how much you actually do for them?" Like is this normal thinking for them? I understand it's a huge generalisation but I often read about alcoholics being selfish. I genuinely don't think he realises how much I actually do for him. In his mind now, I'm the bad guy for starting the row. He just cannot seem to understand my POV at all

OP posts:
Justcallmebebes · 12/10/2022 16:20

It's beyond being all about you tho once you have a child. This is no environment for a child to grow up in. That should be your priority, not appeasing and enabling a nasty drunk.

Please OP, seek out a local AlAnon group for rl support

RampantIvy · 12/10/2022 16:22

You can't continue like this. Something has to give.

His drinking isn't your fault, but enabling him to continue isn't the answer. You need to start planning an escape route now. I feel sorry for your child.

LittleBlueLadenDownWithDew · 12/10/2022 16:22

It's not feasible at present as if I don't stay with him I can't work. He wouldn't watch DD on his days off and I have no family to help. I also work unsocial hours (emergency services) so childminder wouldn't be any good. Plus I wouldn't be happy leaving DD with him as he will often drink when she goes to bed. If we broke up I wouldn't be allowed to stay and keep an eye on things.

OP posts:
Begoniasforever · 12/10/2022 16:23

LittleBlueLadenDownWithDew · 12/10/2022 16:19

Just reading back over my previous spiel. I think what im trying to ask is "is anyone else with an alcoholic who is completely blind to how much you actually do for them?" Like is this normal thinking for them? I understand it's a huge generalisation but I often read about alcoholics being selfish. I genuinely don't think he realises how much I actually do for him. In his mind now, I'm the bad guy for starting the row. He just cannot seem to understand my POV at all

Why is it relevant, it’s not the issue. It’s he’s an alkie and you’re enabling and theirs a little child living in this chaos.

MissConductUS · 12/10/2022 16:23

My guess is that he would still be a dick if he stopped drinking.

RampantIvy · 12/10/2022 16:24

He just cannot seem to understand my POV at all

No, and he won't. My SIL's late husband was an alcoholic (his alcoholism killed him). She had a miserable existence with him, and refused to leave him. She lost all of her friends and now she leads a sad and lonely life. Don't let this be you.

RampantIvy · 12/10/2022 16:25

He wouldn't watch DD on his days off

And you trust him now to do that?

Wolfiefan · 12/10/2022 16:30

Alcohol is his priority. He won’t consider your POV about anything.
You HAVE to find a way to get out. Before this relationship damages your child.

isthismylifenow · 12/10/2022 16:39

So he does not drink when you are at work and he is taking care of your dd?

LittleBlueLadenDownWithDew · 12/10/2022 16:43

@isthismylifenow he will often text me to see what time I'm finishing at. If it's less than an hour he will pour a drink.

OP posts:
Coffeesnob11 · 12/10/2022 16:57

My ex used to tell me to work harder. At the end I was the main earner, doing all the childcare after work and weekends and pick ups/drops offs to nursery, all the cooking and all the mental load. I am afraid to say you will never be enough. You need to find an alternative solution for childcare, he will be drinking whilst looking after them and it's not safe. Is he an emergency worker as well? Is he driving after these sessions? You could attend some on line al anon meetings if you have some time. Hugs it's so hard being with an alcoholic

Motorbike311 · 12/10/2022 16:58

Married to an alcoholic, its incredibly difficult when children are involved. My advice to anyone would be to leave if you can. It's a slow death and it'll take a part of you with it.

Fortunately after four years of hell, a car crash and almost all of our savings gone, my wife is in rehab. No idea if we'll make it with our relationship in tack, but I can promise you that you'll never forgive them for the wasted years of your and your children's lives.

Motnight · 12/10/2022 17:03

RampantIvy · 12/10/2022 16:25

He wouldn't watch DD on his days off

And you trust him now to do that?

This. How on earth are you allowing this to happen? It is child neglect.

Andante57 · 13/10/2022 17:03

Please go to Al Anon op. You will find help and support from people who have experienced - or are experiencing - the same as you.

LittleBlueLadenDownWithDew · 13/10/2022 18:20

Thank you for the advice everyone, especially for those who have shared their own stories of living with an alcoholic partner. I think unless someone is in that situation, it's very difficult to understand why the (non alcoholic) partner doesn't just leave. Ironically (or not) I grew up in an alcoholic household. My mum married one and he displays very similar traits to my DP. I appreciate this will infuriate some posters even more as I have first hand experience from a child's POV of how it affects children and yet I find myself in the same situation as my mum many years later, despite telling myself I'd never be as stupid as her. However, after many discussions with my mum many years after I left home, I do understand why she felt she couldn't leave. I don't necessarily agree with why she stayed but I finally get why it would been far from plain sailing to leave either. I know my current situation is not at all sustainable long term. This thread was more for stories of solidarity from those in similar situations

OP posts:
AFitOfTheVapours · 13/10/2022 19:03

OP, the nastiness is very much part of the alcoholism. alcoholics are generally very unhappy people and their ability to pull their weight in everyday life continues to get less and less with every passing drink. Ot is far easier to project anger and a failure to pull that weight onto others than it is to face reality.

please do seek some support to understand this- Alanon is often a good place to start. For your own and your dc sake, you need to start detaching from the madness and stopping enabling behaviours.

I have tremendous sympathy for your situation, having been in a similar place myself. However, you probably know that other posters are right, you must protect your child. He is likely not safe to look after them and the emotional toll of an alcoholic parent is well known. I know that turns your life upside down and it’s hard but you will cope.

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