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Alcohol support

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Not letting alcoholic husband get to me

15 replies

Outlawqueen · 07/02/2026 23:58

My DH is a functioning alcoholic. He has a job that means working away from home for long periods of time, often in the arse end of nowhere with a few other men (who all also have alcohol and drug issues). He has no qualifications to get any other job, he has tried in the past as the constant rejections got him down. But I am getting so sick of his drinking. He drinks when at home but it's curbed a lot so only 2-3 a night and he doesnt get drunk usually. But while he's away he drinks to the point of being obviously drunk every night. He isn't violent or aggressive but can become argumentative or ranty sometimes when he's drank too much, other times he goes the opposite way and is happy as Larry, but you just never know and sometimes he can flit from one to the other. He sought support from the GP before Christmas and he got referred to an alcohol support team and then given a mentor who told him that because he was able to cut back or drink nothing on the weekends he came home, that he isn't an alcoholic. I was furious with them for this as he was completely prepared and ready for support at that point and this just sent him right back as he then took that as a professional has told him how he drinks isn't an issue so it must be fine.

I am getting so sick of speaking to him on the phone while he works away now. It's fine when we talk during the day but when we talk in the evenings he is clearly drunk and I just can't be arsed with it anymore. I've realised that it really drains my energy and affects me the next day, even the next two days sometimes after an argument on the phone when he's drunk. So a couple of nights ago he was drunk and cheery but I said something that he took wrong and started ranting so I just hung up and blocked him for the night. I unblocked him before I went to sleep and we just carried on the next day as normal. Tonight he video called and was clearly happy drunk but I just couldnt be arsed with it or being on edge in case I say the wrong thing and he gets ranty so I told him I didnt want to talk while he was drunk and that I love him but Im going to bed. He texted me saying that he is gutted that I dont want to talk to him. I feel guilty but I also feel like it is a way of protecting myself from all the negativity that comes from his drinking. I feel like it's not him that I'm talking to when he's drunk and I just want to speak to and be with the real him. I'm trying to stop myself from messaging or calling though because I do love him and I do want to talk to him, I just don't want to talk to drunk him anymore because it's draining the life from me.

OP posts:
Swaytheboat · 08/02/2026 06:43

Oh this is hard, and that "professional" is clearly in the wrong job!!

It may be that him being sad you don't want to talk to him is what is needed. I'd go as far as to say not to bother with evening calls and try to do a morning call (if he's not too hungover and grumpy) or see if you can both extend a lunch time to get a call in then. I don't see how drunk evening calls will do anything to maintain your relationship - they'll just destroy them.

DoctorMartin · 08/02/2026 06:59

Do you know for sure that’s what the alcohol support person said? Or is that what your DH reported they said? Alcoholics lie.

Outlawqueen · 08/02/2026 08:12

Swaytheboat · 08/02/2026 06:43

Oh this is hard, and that "professional" is clearly in the wrong job!!

It may be that him being sad you don't want to talk to him is what is needed. I'd go as far as to say not to bother with evening calls and try to do a morning call (if he's not too hungover and grumpy) or see if you can both extend a lunch time to get a call in then. I don't see how drunk evening calls will do anything to maintain your relationship - they'll just destroy them.

He's actually surprisingly fresh in the mornings. It's one of the things that I think adds to the 'functioning' aspect of it and impacted the alcohol support guy telling him he's not actually addicted- he is very high functioning, can get up early and go to the gym, does well and is very highly regarded at work, etc.

We have kids together so a big part of the evening calls are to say goodnight to them but this is usually before he is drunk. Recently however I can hear the drink in his voice when he is saying goodnight to our oldest at 8pm. Then we tend to talk before going to bed ourselves and he is definitely drunk by this point. The last couple of times I could hear he was drunk when speaking to my son, I just wanted to hang up but my son was chatting away happily telling him about his day and it makes it tricky to. My son can't tell yet, I can hear it- he's not slurring but his words are slower and more flat- but if you didnt know him you might just think that it's the way he talks as it's not overly obvious.
I think I'm just going to start ending the conversation and telling him I'll speak to him in the morning when I can hear he has been drinking. It would be great if that somehow encouraged him to stop but I doubt it.

OP posts:
Outlawqueen · 08/02/2026 08:16

DoctorMartin · 08/02/2026 06:59

Do you know for sure that’s what the alcohol support person said? Or is that what your DH reported they said? Alcoholics lie.

I do believe him when he says the support person said this. Apparently the guy told him that he wasn't alcohol dependent because he doesn't drink spirits, can curb it or stop when he needs to (only ever short term though) and only drinks in the evening, not through the day. I spoke to my dad's friend who is an AA mentor and he said it's not the first time he has heard of NHS alcohol support workers saying similar (unfortunately DH won't speak to him because he is my dad's friend and he doesn't want to speak to someone with a personal connection).

OP posts:
Penguinsandspaniels · 08/02/2026 08:25

He’s an alcoholic. He won’t change as doesn’t see an issue

no wants wants to be a single parent. I def didn’t but we are happier now (ex isn’t )

no more walking on egg shells and I didn’t reliese how much I did till I didn’t

split up and I say that as a mum going through a divorce as ex is sn alcoholic

they never think it’s a problem / gas light and deny any issues

it will get worse

you and kids deserve better

join us here

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/alcohol_support/5473399-support-group-for-those-affected-by-someone-elses-drinking-thread-4?utm_campaign=thread&utm_medium=share

Support group for those affected by someone else's drinking - thread 4 | Mumsnet

I'm about to head out for the morning routine and given how active our thread has been I felt I had better provide a new one. Link to the previous t...

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/alcohol_support/5473399-support-group-for-those-affected-by-someone-elses-drinking-thread-4?utm_campaign=thread&utm_medium=share

Mymanyellow · 08/02/2026 08:25

Why don’t you just split up with him?
I really can’t understand what you think is going to happen? He won’t stop drinking, he’s told you that. The ball is in your court.

Outlawqueen · 08/02/2026 09:04

I didn't say that I want to split up with him. I love him and he has lots and lots of positives and there are lots of positives to our relationship. I was just hoping for some support and others to talk to who might understand the situation. He is an alcoholic, I know that and so does he (despite him using the support worker telling him that he isn't as an excuse to drink again after he had stopped for a while), but his drinking is an issue while he works away and he keeps it under control when he is home. I am just starting to find and lay down the boundaries that help me to protect my own energy when he drinks while working away.

OP posts:
notatinydancer · 08/02/2026 09:46

My partner is away a lot. He’s not an alcoholic but if he phones me drunk I just say I’m not talking to him and I’ll talk to him when he’s sober.
The issue here is I think it will get worse.

FusionChefGeoff · 08/02/2026 09:49

Definitely don’t believe what he reported from the professional. I told my DH that the people at AA told me it would take at least 3 months to stop drinking. No one told me anything of the sort!

sonjadog · 08/02/2026 09:52

I think he is lying to you about what the support person said so that he could continue drinking at home.

Pollqueen · 08/02/2026 10:10

He's an alcoholic, as sure as eggs is eggs and I'm not sure i believe him when he says the support worker told him he's not. Alcoholics lie, a lot

If you want support contact Al Anon

Penguinsandspaniels · 08/02/2026 10:19

So what do you want ?

he won’t stop drinking as he doesn’t think he has a problem

so you tell him your boundaries an if he then pushes them Then what?

there was a lady at Al Anon I went to. Her dh was an alcoholic - hence why she went to Al anon. He said he wasn’t and that no issues

she was always unhappy and on egg shells but wouldn’t leave or kick him out but moaned all the time about him. They had a child. Now in teens. She is deeply unhappy and has been for 10yrs but won’t do anything

he pushes her boundaries and drinks at home , yet she does nothing

he has no respect for her at all

if he drinks that much on work trips I am suprised his bosses don’t say anything

do you want him to stop drinking ?

if he doesn’t is that your boundary ?

AuntieDolly · 08/02/2026 10:28

Stop the night time phone calls?

Nogoodusername · 18/02/2026 11:14

Do join us on this thread if you need more advice pp:
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/alcohol_support/5473399-support-group-for-those-affected-by-someone-elses-drinking-thread-4

All I would say is that all functioning alcoholic stop being functional in the end. I’ve been there. Ex was totally functional until he wasn’t, and when the spiral starts it is hideous and shocking. It’s often some sort of life shock that pushes them over the edge - a bereavement, job loss, even accident or family illness - but not many function indefinitely

Support group for those affected by someone else's drinking - thread 4 | Mumsnet

I'm about to head out for the morning routine and given how active our thread has been I felt I had better provide a new one. Link to the previous t...

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/alcohol_support/5473399-support-group-for-those-affected-by-someone-elses-drinking-thread-4

Mischance · 18/02/2026 11:17

Just tell him you do not want to talk with him when he's had a drink. End of. Either away or at home.

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