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Alcohol support

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Should I leave my alcoholic partner?

60 replies

LolaG09 · 28/03/2025 08:23

I have been with my partner now for nearly 3 years. We used to have a great relationship. He's always had problems deep down with alcohol. When he met me his family said he'd really turned a corner and was so happy but lately his drinking is worse than its ever been. We bought a house together and he told me it would be a fresh start but the stress of renovating the house has triggered the drinking again. He has always suffered with his mental health (depression) and was signed off work 4 months ago as he said work was a major trigger for him but now he's not working he just drinks daily. He either becomes emotionally abusive towards me, sometimes unintentionally hurting me through drunken rages or passes out drunk on the sofa and I have to spend most evenings alone. He's also messaged a lot of women when drunk sexual messages, and says he doesn't remember doing it. He says the most vile things about me and my family. When he's sober he's so lovely but that's a rarity nowadays. I've tried all I can to get him some professional support. NHS waiting lists are so long and the doctor has said he needs private counselling as the NHS sessions wouldn't be enough for him, but we don't have the money as he's not working currently. My family hate him as I've stayed with them before when he's been vile towards me but don't realise how bad his mental health is. I don't know what to do? We go round in circles and when he's sober he listens and understands but I find myself going round in circles. He's told me so many times when he's depressed and/or drinking he wants to kill himself and I'm terrified if I leave he'll go through with it but the relationship is draining me physically and emotionally- what should I do?

OP posts:
Twiglets1 · 28/03/2025 17:45

LolaG09 · 28/03/2025 09:19

@Littlefish you may say we rushed into buying a house together but it was the right decision for us at the time. We were both living with our parents. He told me his parents house was a major trigger for him as they drank regularly when he was a child and growing up

He makes a lot of excuses doesn’t he?

Blames his drinking on his living at his parents, then renovating a house, then his job.

He’s an alcoholic so there will always be an excuse & he will only get worse. The time to leave is now and please take the puppy with you or rehome her.

Icanttakethisanymore · 29/03/2025 13:46

Kindly, I think you are misunderstanding the situation; he didn’t drink because he was living with his parents, he’s not drinking now because of the renovation. He’s drinking because he’s an alcoholic.

He didn’t stop drinking when you bought the house and had a ‘new start’ because he’s an alcoholic.

he didn’t stop drinking when you got a puppy because he’s an alcoholic.

he won’t stop drinking when he gets a new job, because he’s an alcoholic.

you need to understand that he drinks because he’s an alcoholic and he won’t stop until he decides to stop.

he might decide to stop next week or he might die in a few years time surrounded by his own faeces with blood pouring from his mouth.

you need to decide how long you want to wait but rest assured, there is nothing you can do to make him stop.

im sorry OP, this must be horrendous for you.

cooldarkroom · 29/03/2025 14:00

Your family will be overjoyed to know you are leaving him, Its not a burden, currently you cause them so much worry.

you cannot save him, but you can save yourself.
He needs you to leave him, you enable him.

AcquadiP · 29/03/2025 14:08

"He's told me so many times when he's depressed and/or drinking he wants to kill himself and I'm terrified if I leave he'll go through with it but the relationship is draining me physically and emotionally- what should I do?"

Leave the relationship. Harsh as this may sound, you're not his saviour, his verbal punchbag or his counsellor. And his threats of suicide are emotional blackmail and would be the final straw for me.

He is supposed to be your partner and contributing positive things to your life, not leaving you emotionally and physically drained. Put yourself first and step off this merry-go-round of madness for good. He doesn't appear to be helping himself so why should you?

BunnyRuddington · 29/03/2025 20:37

@LolaG09will the breeder take the puppy back or is there a charity that you could rehome them through?

BMW6 · 01/04/2025 13:02

LolaG09 · 28/03/2025 16:49

I'm not using the dog as an 'excuse', I truly believe he would never touch the dog intentionally as he loves her to bits.

But he'll be pissed out of his brains so the "he wouldn't hurt her intentionally " is completely irrelevant!

Plus she'd be frightened. Animals KNOW when someone is behaving oddly. In his pissed state God only knows what the poor dog will go through.

You have agency - the dog doesn't. If you go you MUST take her with you - rehome if you can't keep her - but have the compassion and intelligence not to leave her alone with a drunk.

I know. I've been there.

BunnyRuddington · 01/04/2025 19:42

How are you @LolaG09? Have you made a decision yet?

AndiPandiPuddinAndPie · 05/04/2025 08:48

I stayed for my two dogs too OP…. for 13 YEARS, now I’m running as fast as I can while I can. I loved him too, but now I’ve come to realise that his primary relationship was with drink, It was never with me.
Be glad it’s only been 3 years of your precious life lovely. Keep reading the threads on this board, they will give you the strength. @HowardTJMoon That fable was so powerful, thanks for posting. I’ve not just released my rope I’ve 🔥 it too so I can’t grab back on !

Frustratedmumpleasehelp · 19/04/2025 19:17

Hey, did you end up leaving?

Sassybooklover · 19/04/2025 19:28

You can't help him. The only person who can help your partner is your partner. He's clearly not prepared or ready to seek professional help. Alcohol makes him verbally aggressive, and abusive towards him. Honestly, life isn't going to get any better, in fact it will probably become worse. You need to sell the house, split and move on. You are not responsible for him, and your mental wellbeing has to come before him.

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