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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Why does he minimise this?

22 replies

MakeSensePlease · 25/02/2024 19:15

Getting my hard hat on here but I need some advice. Basically, I’m an alcoholic. I know that, and so does my husband.

We have 2 kids together.

I don’t drink during the day, but I drink a minimum of 2 bottles of wine most evenings. If the kids aren’t here (sleeping at grandparents for example) that can increase considerably.

I can do a day or two without anything but that’s my limit.

I’ve always had trouble with my mental health, I had a particularly shitty childhood, and have attempted suicide multiple times.

I’m awaiting an assessment for ASD due to the above and also as my mother is autistic, so are my kids. They’re only looking at this now for me after a lifetime of being on anti depressants and multiple self harm/suicide situations.

My husband doesn’t have any issues along any of these lines. He’s a good, hard working man, a great dad and honestly in every way but this one is really supportive.

But this is what I don’t understand. He’s often making noise about how much I drink. He’s worried for me, my health, how much i spend.

I wake all night anyway despite the alcohol so if the kids wake up I’m usually up regardless but he will do it too if he hears them, he doesn’t shirk onto me.

In the past I’ve managed to not drink for weeks at a time, and we talk about it so it’s not like he doesn’t know that I’m trying not to but then he’ll go out and get beer and bring to the house and drink in front of me. He barely drinks the rest of the time so I don’t understand why he does it, and then I end up doing it too.

In the past he’s also expressed worry for me but as soon as I express worry for myself because of how much I’m drinking he tells me I’m being over the top, two bottles of wine a day is hardly ‘rock n roll territory’ and im being a drama queen.

Just this week I drank 4 bottles of wine in one day (kids were sleeping out at grandparents) and whilst drunk I self referred to a local program to help alcoholics/drug addicts. I really don’t want to be like this for the rest of my life and I’m trying and have been trying so hard to stop.

Anyway they called me after I filled in the forms and questioned me on how much I was drinking, and I was honest. They then went on to say if I’m experiencing shakes/sweats or other withdrawal symptoms etc to have a small
drink of alcohol and sip it slowly otherwise I could be at risk of cardiac arrest. When I talked to him about this he literally laughed in my face and told me how ridiculous the advice was, I don’t drink nearly enough to be at risk of this happening and he just keeps minimising my situation on one hand and making it out to be massive deal on the other.

He used to be obsessed with proper rock n roll shit and I wonder if he has some skewed idea of what an addict is and doesn’t think for whatever reason that I fit the criteria or if he’s trying to sabotage me for reasons I don’t understand. Does any of this make sense to anyone else?

OP posts:
Crunchingleaf · 25/02/2024 19:19

Well done OP for taking that step and seeking help.

I don’t know why he is doing it. Maybe he is in denial about how bad it for you. It doesn’t sound like he is very supportive though. Drinking in front of you and then minimising it.

Sending support your way.

Alwaystired2023 · 25/02/2024 19:24

Oh OP well done for reaching out for the help you need I really hope this sets you on a good path. Agree with PP that maybe your partner is in denial, doesn't want to face what is really happening and how scary it is etc he sounds like he has been v good in many ways and maybe facing your issues is too much for him

You can do this for yourself though 100%

ThinWomansBrain · 25/02/2024 19:28

You know that you're drinking too much - it would be nice to have your partners' support with stopping/reducing, but at the end of the day, you need to do it yourself.
As PPs have said, you've made the first step.
Why not find out about AA meetings in your area.

vincettenoir · 25/02/2024 19:35

Maybe he doesn't want to face it or maybe the drinking has just crept up on him and he just generally doesn't realise.

MakeSensePlease · 25/02/2024 19:44

Thank you for the responses so far, I wasn’t expecting kind ones! To answer a PP I have tried AA previously but the format really didn’t work for me. I have a huge problem with any attention being on me for literally any reason in general, possibly because of the ND.

I went twice and felt more reluctant to talk each time not less which wasn’t helpful. I don’t deny that AA must be helpful to some but the set up isn’t for everyone.

I do have a one to one appt this coming week with the service I referred myself to, which I’m really hoping will be able to help x

OP posts:
Americano75 · 25/02/2024 20:17

Well done for taking that first step. That's massive.

I'm hoping he's just scared of facing the reality of the situation, but is there some reason why he might prefer you this way? Is he worried you'll get sober and be less reliant on him? Please don't give up either way, you can totally do this and your life will improve immeasurably if you take the help you need.

Good luck.

ThinWomansBrain · 25/02/2024 20:29

sorry, I missed the bit that you'd referred to a service - lots of good wishes that it meets your needs and you find success.

Deepdivesueandyou · 25/02/2024 20:32

Try SMART recovery and focus on you not him.
Good luck, it's hard but you can do it

MakeSensePlease · 25/02/2024 20:34

Deepdivesueandyou · 25/02/2024 20:32

Try SMART recovery and focus on you not him.
Good luck, it's hard but you can do it

I haven’t heard of this, i will Google x thank you xx

OP posts:
Zola1 · 25/02/2024 20:39

Well done on recognising the problem and looking for help, good luck with your recovery!

He might prefer you drunk so he is in control. He might not want to acknowledge the extent of the issues as then he would have to look at himself/the relationship etc. Or he might be in denial. Who knows but overall you need to focus on you and if he doesn't support you then you might need to reconsider the relationship

DontGoGran · 25/02/2024 20:39

I'm a MH nurse and we used to have detox patients on the ward. The amount you're drinking could absolutely cause withdrawal symptoms and we'd potentially have had you on the Ward with medication to help you, so feel free to pass that on to your husband to see if it helps him realise that you are drinking a large amount and whilst it might not quite be 'rock and roll' levels, it really does need taking seriously.

You're doing an amazing job by starting to get help, please do reach out to your GP too who might be able to put you into contact with local NHS drug and alcohol services to provide you with more support.

WandaWonder · 25/02/2024 20:41

This is about you stop blaming him, you are doing this and only you can stop it

Lovingitallnow · 25/02/2024 20:45

To be fair to him I'm shocked at that advice. I'm not disputing it- I havn't a clue really. But I'm shocked that the advice would be to have a small drink of alcohol to avoid cardiac arrest. And based off my experience of addicts I would assume they're lying. So I think your best bet is to show him the information and where you've gotten it.

MissyB1 · 25/02/2024 20:51

Stop focusing on his reaction/opinion of your addiction, concentrate instead on your steps to recovery. You are going to do this for yourself and your kids.

CharmedCult · 25/02/2024 21:03

I’m trying not to but then he’ll go out and get beer and bring to the house and drink in front of me. He barely drinks the rest of the time so I don’t understand why he does it

This reminds me of those threads where the wife wants to start losing weight and suddenly the husband starts buying cakes and chocolate on the way home from work.

Maybe he likes the dynamic? Maybe he's worried you'll sober up and then start looking at your life a bit more clearly and notice other things you'd like to change?

It certainly sounds like he wants to sabotage any potential recovery, whether he's doing it consciously or not.

MakeSensePlease · 25/02/2024 21:07

DontGoGran · 25/02/2024 20:39

I'm a MH nurse and we used to have detox patients on the ward. The amount you're drinking could absolutely cause withdrawal symptoms and we'd potentially have had you on the Ward with medication to help you, so feel free to pass that on to your husband to see if it helps him realise that you are drinking a large amount and whilst it might not quite be 'rock and roll' levels, it really does need taking seriously.

You're doing an amazing job by starting to get help, please do reach out to your GP too who might be able to put you into contact with local NHS drug and alcohol services to provide you with more support.

Thank you so much for this. I think I just needed to hear that I’m not mad, this is an actual issue and I’m doing the right thing to ask for help.

I am under a treatment plan with my GP atm, and am scheduled to start counselling when they have availability. I just wasn’t sure.. well about anything really.

OP posts:
MakeSensePlease · 26/02/2024 08:21

This reminds me of those threads where the wife wants to start losing weight and suddenly the husband starts buying cakes and chocolate on the way home from work.

This is a bit how it feels to me I just don’t understand why though.

OP posts:
MakeSensePlease · 26/02/2024 08:32

In the previous post I was quoting @CharmedCult in case that isn’t clear.

OP posts:
greasypolemonkeyman · 26/02/2024 09:28

MakeSensePlease · 26/02/2024 08:21

This reminds me of those threads where the wife wants to start losing weight and suddenly the husband starts buying cakes and chocolate on the way home from work.

This is a bit how it feels to me I just don’t understand why though.

He actively wants you to be an alcoholic. It could be subconscious on his part but I doubt it. He likes the dynamic, knows exactly what you are and that things will limp along as they always have as long as you carry on drinking. He doesn't WANT you to get sober, so he intentionally sabotages you by going out of his to buy alcohol when he normally doesn't drink, and then consuming it in front of you. So by doing that, he's actually telling you very loudly and very clearly, that yes he knows you are an alcoholic and he wants to keep you that way.

You can't control him biting alcohol, but you can control your reaction to it. You don't have to sit there and watch him drink it, or even stay in the house. If you manage to stand strong a few times, he will feel he is losing control of you and step back to find another way to do it.

In your shoes I'd be laying it out, telling him he changes his behaviour or we split up permanently. Then get both of you into counselling.

MakeSensePlease · 26/02/2024 21:48

Thank you @greasypolemonkeyman

*You can't control him biting alcohol, but you can control your reaction to it. You don't have to sit there and watch him drink it, or even stay in the house. If you manage to stand strong a few times, he will feel he is losing control of you and step back to find another way to do it.

In your shoes I'd be laying it out, telling him he changes his behaviour or we split up permanently. Then get both of you into counselling.*

I don’t think it’s on purpose, he’s so worried about me the rest of the time but something definitely happens when he knows I’m trying to really make a go of it.

I’m going to ask him about it, and I’m already starting (yet another) round of counselling it might be beneficial for us to do some together.

We have had a conversation about this before where I stated that I need to do this (get sober) for the kids sake and my own, and if I couldn’t do it with him I would do it without.

Perhaps he felt our relationship was under threat and as another PP mentioned, is possibly happier with us limping along in a situation where he knows the outcome as opposed to meeting something new head on. Better the devil you know sort of thing?

OP posts:
Comingupriver · 26/02/2024 22:19

I suspect your husband is in denial about the severity and reality of your lives. From the sounds of it you function fairly well so for his own sanity I suspect he has lied to himself about it for a long time too. The first step is admitting there is a problem and he’s not there yet. Can you get a third party ti help him get there? You’re going to need his support with your journey ahead. Best of luck, don’t repeat the difficult childhood you had for your own kids, you can do this- some days you’ll do it hour by hour, others week by week. Stay strong.

MakeSensePlease · 27/02/2024 23:12

@Comingupriver thank you, I think there’s a lot of truth in what you say.

additionally thank you for this - Best of luck, don’t repeat the difficult childhood you had for your own kids, you can do this- some days you’ll do it hour by hour, others week by week. Stay strong.

This is my greatest worry. My kids childhood being like mine. I really am trying to break the cycle. In trying to do that I’ve turned to less than perfect means of managing myself, but this isn’t right either. I appreciate all of the responses to this, so thanks xx

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