Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

DH and alcohol. Sober me blew up last night

124 replies

AllHailKingLouis · 11/06/2022 08:20

So many parts to this story I don’t know where to start.

ive been sober since New Year’s Day. I now consider myself teetotal. DH however has continued drinking heavily on a weekend. He is not a nice person when he drinks, it starts with him shouting and arguing with the TV and then he tends to turn on me being argumentative, sarcastic, cocky, passive aggressive and animated. He’s been the same throughout our marriage but because I used to drink too my memories of “last nights argument” was often hazy and he’d gaslight me into thinking it was my fault. Since I became sober I’ve realised it’s all him.

so, last weekend he caused upset (not an argument as I’ve largely learnt to be passive when he’s drinking to avoid conflict) by totally taking over the TV and putting on cunting Jools Holland twice when he knew I wanted to watch a film and knowing full well I can’t stand Jools Holland.

Then we get to this weekend. We have a social event today that I have been nervous and anxious about all week. I’m neurodiverse. I had previous asked him not to cock it up by faffing around today so that we’re late etc or him deciding he can’t come. he promised me all would go smoothly.

He then tells me he’s going on a night out on Friday (last night). I remind him about the event today (he’s previously cancelled plans with me due to hangover). He promised me all plans would go to plan. I also told him not to be an arsehole when he gets home because quite frankly I’m fucking sick of it every weekend. He promises me he won’t.

so he gets home drunk and disappears into the garden. I go see what he’s upto and he’s peering over the fence eyeballing the also very drunk man next door saying “what is this dickhead doing staring at our house” 😱 I explain that whilst he was out a fight/argument took place next door and now he’s stood guard on the front door trying to stop his wife getting out and getting into another fight with the locals. DH becomes all animated and starts spouting off bullshit about how they only started misbehaving because he was out. I assured him that I doubt that even knew he was out or gave a shit 🙄

we gets back in the house and he keeps banging on about it asking what happened and what were they doing. I told him they’d knocked on our door earlier but none were making any sense as they were all very drunk so I have no idea but it was none of our business. He turn says “I’m going to go out there and get my arse out in front of their door”. I say “ha, yeah ok” not believing he was being serious. He was being serious and marched outside and stood in front of their ring doorbell doing god knows what. Mortified I drag him back inside and tell him to stop causing trouble.

he goes on and on about it before telling me that he’s arranged to pick his 25 year old son up tomorrow (today) and give him and lift to his mates. I say “remember about the even planned?” And he said “yeah I can do both”. I say “well what time are you picking him up?” And he says “12”. I say “well that’s not going to work is it as we need pick (granddaughter) up at 12:15 as has been arranged all week”. He says “we can do both”. I said “we can’t get across town in 15 minutes, you promised me you wouldn’t faff around tomorrow”. He raises his voice and says “no! You’re making a drama out of it, there is no need for a drama yet you make a drama” and gets all animated with his arms. I snap. I mean I properly snapped and shouted not to speak to me like shit just because he’s had a drink and I’m fucking sick of him being an absolute cock everytime he drinks, I’ve had enough!

he’s visibly shocked that I’ve finally stood up for myself and shuts up. 5 minutes later he says “so am I telling my own son that I can’t give him a lift tomorrow then?”

I say calmly “tell him you’ll have to pick him up earlier as we need to be somewhere by 12:15”.

He says “so I’m telling him I can’t do it because you said so?”

I say “as I just said, you’d need to pick him up earlier”.

he says “you said I’m not allowed to do it so I’ll tell him that?”

I blow up again and shout at him not to try and fucking gaslight me because it won’t work. My suggestion was perfectly reasonable and clear and if he wishes to deliberately misunderstand then that’s on him, not me.

he does a daft thing with him arms and says “ooo I’m scared!”. He’s 51.

I continue trying to watch tv and he tries to shove his phone in my face as he wants me to see the message from his son. I shout “get that phone out of my face”. He gives up and stomps off to bed.

Im not been unreasonable to be fucking livid am I?

OP posts:
sjxoxo · 11/06/2022 10:14

I couldn’t read til the end but honestly you need to get rid of this man and move to a different area!! X

Badger1970 · 11/06/2022 10:17

When I read posts like yours OP, I want to cry.

This relationship is utterly toxic and you're both miserable. There's no point on holding onto it like some sort of comfort blanket because you can't face the change.

You've already shown that you can make a massive life change. So it's clearly time for another.

Alb0 · 11/06/2022 10:19

It's clear that your husband cannot handle alcohol and it makes him aggressive. He really needs help. He needs to admit he has a problem. Even if he won't go to AA, would he go to marriage counselling?

If you suddenly left to go to your parents for a week, or where ever, would the shock wake him up?

biscuiteer · 11/06/2022 10:20

How was giving up drinking for you?

Topseyt123 · 11/06/2022 10:23

Why on earth are you wasting your life with this fuckwit?

Thepeopleversuswork · 11/06/2022 10:24

I was married to someone who sounds exactly like that. It’s no way to live. You know this already.

You know what you need to do OP. I imagine you are just looking for validation from MN.

The answer is yes you need to divorce him.

Folklore9074 · 11/06/2022 10:25

Honestly the whole situation is embarrassing for you both.

Blusteryday101 · 11/06/2022 10:26

OP I am trying to stop eating as much atm and my dh is not on board because he uses food to defuse job stress. I have decided I am going to carry on pursuing my own weight loss goals whatever he decides to do , whereas before I always capitulated, and even this relatively small change is causing issues and we have been married over 25 years and are happy together!

I am not a big drinker myself but I imagine one of you giving up alcohol while the other carries on is a huge change and one that is very difficult to negotiate if you previously used drink to "smooth over" the cracks in your relationship. I suggest you go to AA or Al Anon and get some support and advice. Sadly, you may find that you are no longer compatible as a couple because over use of food, alcohol or drugs is usually I think indicative of other issues much greater than the addiction itself.

greatblueheron · 11/06/2022 10:39

Do you really want to spend the second half of your life living like this?

YetAnotherNameChange111 · 11/06/2022 10:40

StepAwayFromGoogling · 11/06/2022 08:42

Honestly, you sound as bad as each other. You escalated all of that as much as he did.

I sometimes feel I have read a completely different OP.

So standing up to a bullying twit is her "escalating" it??? Mental

Andouillette · 11/06/2022 10:43

OP, the most important thing is that you protect your own sobriety. You have achieved something amazing by managing to stay sober the last 5 and a bit months, pat yourself on the back and start making plans to move on, please. You deserve so much better. Frankly I doubt your husband will achieve sobriety, unless he gets a lot of help and it's highly unlikely (and inappropriate) that you could be that help.
To those PPs pulling the 'six of one, half a dozen of the other' schtick, please just don't. It's utter bollocks and minimises both OP's sobriety and her DH's revolting behaviour.

Cailin66 · 11/06/2022 10:44

AllHailKingLouis · 11/06/2022 09:39

Will be fun when next door check the footage on their ring doorbell today. I really hope they confront him.

Why would they given all they were up to last night. They can hardly be on their high horse about your husband. I don’t have any advice but I thought your tale of woe was hilarious. Kudos for giving up your drinking. Maybe you can help your husband to change.

KettrickenSmiled · 11/06/2022 10:50

I was married to an alcoholic as well OP. We had BiL & SiL to stay one New Year, & I mentioned my decision to do Dry January. After the ensuing divorce ... SiL told me that as they left our house, she talked about it, saying "if Kett says she is stopping drinking, she will stop. I wonder how long ..." & her DH (my H's brother) finished the thought for her - "I give it 6 months."

I lasted 6 weeks, then divorced H.

Like you OP, I went through a period of "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em."
It made H's abusive, workshy, narcissistic behaviours easier to tolerate.
PP who have popped up to do a Miss Manners finger-wag at you for your appalling temerity in sticking up for yourself obviously haven't got a clue how exhausting, frustrating & debilitating it is to live with a drunk.

You might to best to forget about H's behaviours, forget about managing him, skirting round his fuck-ups, negotiating the real world for him - & change your focus to how you feel, & what you want for your future.

You've had some suggestions on how to tackle him, what to say - one PP even popped up to wang on about how you "support him" FFS - as if you haven't already turned yourself inside out with talking, pleading, managing, ameliorating for years ...
He's not going to change. The only thing you can change is your mindset, & your own life.

Congratulations on your 6th month of sobriety. The clear sight it's given you is painful, but necessary. Instead of focusing on H today - think about yourself. Your living situation, your work & pension, what your finances would look like in the event of a split.

And take your GDD out without him today. You don't need his stinking hungover company, bringing you down & annoying you. Have a nice day out, have fun with GDD, & start a lovely daydream about where you could live, & what you could do with your freedom, if you chose to lose your alkie.
Flowers

mam0918 · 11/06/2022 10:52

Alcohol can make people arseholes, I have no doubt he is pushing you.

Your langauge here suggests you push back which likely is an antagonist to his inhibited demeanor making it worse.

Honestly you dont like each other and arent good for each other so should probably split... continue on your sobrity and find a new more suited life for yourself.

Whatsonmymindgrapes · 11/06/2022 10:57

This sounds all very ridiculous, you made things a lot worse though. Both as bad as each other.

KettrickenSmiled · 11/06/2022 10:59

YetAnotherNameChange111 · 11/06/2022 10:40

I sometimes feel I have read a completely different OP.

So standing up to a bullying twit is her "escalating" it??? Mental

But @StepAwayFromGoogling - OP has committed the cardinal sin of not presenting as a frail, overcome victim, so a few PP are finding it hard to understand. They don't know how to square the circle of dealing with anyone who isn't the Perfect Victim, so instead of addressing their own empathy & comprehension issues, they project the discomfort back & slip into a nice easy bit of victim blaming.
Of particular merit is the PP who opines "how embarrassing for you both" as if OP is responsible for her H making a twat of himself.

OP - ignore the school prefects who came her to act all superior about a situation they can't comprehend. Anyone who's lived under the same roof as a drunk knows exactly what you are going through. Brew Cake

nalabae · 11/06/2022 10:59

He’s bringing you down

Alb0 · 11/06/2022 11:01

mam0918 · 11/06/2022 10:52

Alcohol can make people arseholes, I have no doubt he is pushing you.

Your langauge here suggests you push back which likely is an antagonist to his inhibited demeanor making it worse.

Honestly you dont like each other and arent good for each other so should probably split... continue on your sobrity and find a new more suited life for yourself.

She said she snapped, the first time ever. Clearly she has never pushed back before now and has not before now been an antagonist, so can we please stop with the victim-blaming?

KettrickenSmiled · 11/06/2022 11:07

Whatsonmymindgrapes · 11/06/2022 10:57

This sounds all very ridiculous, you made things a lot worse though. Both as bad as each other.

Yeah, what with OP getting herself smashed to near-oblivion & mooning at the neighbour's camera ... oh no, that was her H, whose behaviour you gloss over, weirdly.

What would YOU have done differently, @Whatsonmymindgrapes?
How would YOU deal with a raging alcoholic under your roof?

so, last weekend he caused upset (not an argument as I’ve largely learnt to be passive when he’s drinking to avoid conflict)

OP's husband is an arse when she doesn't respond, & an arse when she does.
Quit with the victim blaming - OP has achieved the amazing feat of living teetotal for 5 months. A fact you prefer to ignore, because you wanted to scold her. Odd choice, & one that says more about you than OP.

recoveringyoungalco · 11/06/2022 11:11

well done on giving up drinking. It sounds like your DH is still in a very toxic relationship with alcohol.

I wouldn't be saying LTB but talk to him sober and calmly. You both need to know where you stand, and you don't need to up with his crap. You can't force anyone to change misfortunetly. But if he can't see that his drinking is an issue, well that's an issue. If someone only drinks alcohol once a year but there is always problems when they do, then they have a problem with alcohol. So don't let him brush you off that it's only weekends. That a 'real' alco drinks every day of the week, every hour, doesn't work, what ever excuse he wants to use. A 50 yr old man should be able to act like an adult.

Letsbekindplease · 11/06/2022 11:13

He sounds like an absolute man child. Well done you for sticking up for yourself.

AllHailKingLouis · 11/06/2022 11:18

Whatsonmymindgrapes · 11/06/2022 10:57

This sounds all very ridiculous, you made things a lot worse though. Both as bad as each other.

Yeah, me sticking up for myself was a lot worse than DH shouting abuse at the neighbour, mooning at the their front door and ultimately starting on me. I must learn to behave myself, poor DH

OP posts:
AmaryIlis · 11/06/2022 11:19

I don't think it's in any way a bad thing that you blew up at him, but I question whether it will do any good unless he is capable of remembering it when he sobers up.

DH used to have a tendency to take out bad temper on whoever was nearest, and initially I instinctively reacted by getting out of his way. However, when it came to doing it to our children I decided that enough was enough. The next time he started this, I stopped him in his tracks by saying, very loudly and firmly, that No, he did NOT get to take out his temper on us, I wasn't going to tolerate it, and he had to sort himself out or else. He was so shocked that he stopped immediately and has been much more self-disciplined ever since.

lisavanderpumpscloset · 11/06/2022 11:21

I think you did absolutely fantastic sticking up for yourself. Sometimes you get pushed to the limit and snap. Sounds like this is what happened and I'm glad you pushed back.

The question now is, if he continues, what then?

MissyCooperismyShero · 11/06/2022 11:23

Why have you put your energy into reliving this drama when you should have put it into separation. You are a grandmother fgs. Woman up, dump the idiot and get on with enjoying what remains of your life in peace.