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Relationships

Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

DH is a drug addict,support needed.

65 replies

keepyourheadup · 15/09/2015 12:24

My DH has gone into relapse over the last two months, and I am struggling.

He suffers from manic depression and began using two years ago, in secret whilst I was at work, to "self mediate" and make himself feel "ok." At the time I found out we sought medical assistance and support, he greatly improved and life was much better.however he discharged himself from their care after 5 months saying he felt like a new man and was fixed.

The old behaviours began to show again recently, the lying, not eating, insomnia, lack of physical closeness, manipulative behaviour, the starting of arguments over nothing and the physical symptoms (soiling himself and our bed clothes)

I am now going through the stages again with him, where his is in complete denial about what he is doing, that everything else is to blame and what he is doing isn't causing him any harm but helping him, he is trying to bargain with me, tell me that it is all my fault.

Although I know none of this to be true and that it's the addiction talking it's an incredibly stressful and destructive environment to live in.

I am at the stage now where I am torn, I don't know now whether cognitively he is ever going to come back from this. This first week of being clean is the worst the withdraw is difficult but after that there seems to be some clarity from him in regards to the situation. His drive returns he can see what's going on.

I care deeply about him, and I know he is suffering from an illness. Sometimes I just want to scream and cry the stress is incredibly difficult to deal with.

I have RL support however it has reached the point where they have told me that they thinks it's best for me to leave, and that I deserve better.

OP posts:
keepyourheadup · 17/09/2015 16:47

radomness thank you for your kind words

donkeyoaty my brother Smile

OP posts:
keepyourheadup · 17/09/2015 16:58

tripbot I did think about letting him tale the household items he was requesting as they would be a pain in the ass to move however the weeks worth of shopping I've just done makes me reluctant to give up my cheese. The washing machine on the other hand he is more than welcome to have Wink

He is after larger possessions as he is just being a knob and trying to make my life difficult. So the taking of one curtain out of a pair for example.

Luckily there no joint accounts he has access too, after the first time around I knew this could potentially happen again so didn't leave myself financially at risk of savings being wiped Smile

OP posts:
keepyourheadup · 17/09/2015 17:17

I have told him that he has between 6-7 to come and take his things. I will not be answering the door after 7 pm this evening.

I will have 3 family members here with me for support, and my brother staying the night.

OP posts:
springydaffs · 17/09/2015 17:43

Poor you. You're doing all the right things - but it hurts.

Just a thought: have you come across CODA on your travels? You may or may not be codependent but imo it's good to check it out just in case - at least to learn some good skills for healthy future relationships. I say this bcs you refer to your 'caring nature' and perhaps the warning signs were there right at the start that this guy was going to give you the runaround... Codependence is complex, it's not just propping up addicts/damaged people.

Well done for what you're doing. It's not easy Flowers

tribpot · 17/09/2015 19:27

Hopefully he's now been and gone - sounds like you've got your bases covered for support today, which is excellent.

keepyourheadup · 17/09/2015 19:50

springydaffs

Thank you for your message. Yes I have heard of CODA and I have been attending counselling since the substance misuse first came to light. He started using around 2 years ago I found out about this 14 months ago (no drug issues for the first 4 years, bar the occasional joint with friends back in the beginning.) We had a fairly normal stable relationship until 2 years ago, so it wasn't something I was aware of from the start.

OP posts:
keepyourheadup · 17/09/2015 19:54

tribpot yes he has been and gone he has taken his own possessions from the house, and I have got a good support network around me Smile

OP posts:
springydaffs · 17/09/2015 20:01

I hope he left the curtains in pairs??

This stuff is just bonkers, isnt it. Tragic but bonkers Confused

Flowers
Notasinglefuckwasgiven · 17/09/2015 20:33

Hi keep just another mn poster offering support. My dds father is addicted to cannabis. It is part of why we aren't together ( among other things ) he wouldn't give it up for anything. Even for dd when she was ill. She needed care and he'd be sneakily nipping out for a spliff. People underestimate the addictive power of these drugs. You've done the right thing. He's made his choice. Please keep talking to us there are many who understand and know why you tried to help him. Flowers

keepyourheadup · 17/09/2015 21:24

springy it is bonkers I agree, the curtains were left in pairs, and white goods in place but, he took the toaster.

notasinglefuck thank you for the support, it's really nice to hear from somebody who has been through a similar experience I don't know anybody in RL that has. That is awful that he put his habit before the care of your DD.

OP posts:
DonkeyOaty · 17/09/2015 22:04

Plough on my dear. We are waving our pompoms for you.

springydaffs · 17/09/2015 22:35

That's what addicts do - put there addiction before everything and everyone else. It's their first love Sad

ThumbWitchesAbroad · 18/09/2015 02:27

Well I'm glad he didn't take half of every pair of curtains, what a knobby suggestion in the first place! Glad you had your family there to support you.

Notasinglefuckwasgiven · 18/09/2015 08:20

Yes they aren't reasonable at all. I was like you, being a spoilsport and stopping him relaxing properly by banning that shit from my home. At one point as the sole earner I was told I was selfish having a car and it was a luxury whereas he needed the weed to relaxConfused so the car should go to free up money. Considering I live 20 miles from work and since I drive the bus I need to be at work before the bus service starts so needed the bloody car didn't register as as sensible as giving up dope....Hmm

lilybetsy · 18/09/2015 10:25

Ive been through this. Im my ExH's case it was cannabis, and probably cocaine... he lost his wife, sons and family through his persistat drug abuse.
our children he lived with and seen things that are deeply upsetting. Im so glad you have seen the light now, before you have kids. Please dont be sucked back in...

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