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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

Worriedaboutdpsdrinking

24 replies

worriedaboutdp · 12/02/2009 23:43

I would like some support and advice about dp's drinking. I am really scared that he is an alcoholic. I've often had issue with how much he goes out but it's always been about socialising rather than drinking iyswim but now it's much clearer to me that he is drinking too much and I feel that it is affecting our relationship.

I've tried broaching it with him but whilst sometimes he agrees that he is drinking too much at other times he says that I'm just oaning about nothing, as if it is somehow my fault.

I love him but I worry about the impact that his drinking has on our lives. To me this means that he has a problem but he disagrees.

I don't know what I'm after here really apart from some support and advice as I don't feel like I can discuss this with anyone in rl.

OP posts:
SlartyBartFast · 12/02/2009 23:44

do you know how much?
d you not drink?

Janos · 12/02/2009 23:46

I sympathise worried.

What is it exactly about your DP's drinking that makes you think he has a problem?

Not saying that to have a go but rather what has made you think 'this isn't right?', IYSWIM?

Haribosmummy · 12/02/2009 23:47

It really depends how much he is drinking, whether this is a significant increase to 'normal' and whether it's causing other problems... (financial etc)

worriedaboutdp · 12/02/2009 23:47

I drink but much less than he does.

He drinks around 5 nights/week and I don't know how much but he is "drunk" at least 2 nights and on the other occasions he would be over the legal limit to drive for example and probably much more than that tbh (he doesn't drink and drive btw, just trying to illustrate).

OP posts:
SlartyBartFast · 12/02/2009 23:48

without labelling him, if you are unhappy with his drinking, try and get him to see sense may be.

worriedaboutdp · 12/02/2009 23:49

I feel like he can't just ever have one drink, he always has more. Having said that there are times, family events, where he might not drink at all but this is usually because he's drank a lot the night before.

I don't want dd to think that it's normal to drink every night/go tothe pub all of the time.

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Janos · 12/02/2009 23:52

OK..would you say that once he starts drinking he is unable to stop? Because if the answer is yes, that may be indicative of a problem.

Drinking 5 nights a week is a lot.

worriedaboutdp · 12/02/2009 23:54

Yes, I think that's probably the crux of my worry. He drinks too often,imo, and finds it difficult to stop. He however would argue that he doesn't have a problem because he doesn't drink every day and because there are times that he doesn't drink when alcohol is available freely.

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Janos · 12/02/2009 23:57

Would he admit that there is a problem, worried? Because often people who do have an issue with drinking won't admit it until they have some sort of wake up call.

I do have some idea what I'm talking about btw.

Janos · 12/02/2009 23:58

Are you able to talk to him about it? Does he get defensive?

solidgoldbullet4myvalentine · 12/02/2009 23:59

Finding it difficult to stop could indicate a problem. But 5 nights a week wouldnt necessarily be bad if, for instance, on 2 of those nights he has one glass of wine or one can of beer or something: heavy drinking 5 nights a week isn't all that healthy (though I used to do it and am alive and well thanks).
Do you drink at all yourself? Sometimes people who don't drink can get unnecessarily worried about other people's alcohol consumption. Does your DP get unpleasant when drunk, or is he often too hungover to function properly - or is he spending more than the family can afford on drink? All these would be indications that he should cut down dramatically.

worriedaboutdp · 13/02/2009 00:00

I don't know. I've thought about some sort of ultimatum but that's really not what I want at all because I do love him, he has lots of good points and I hate that kind of thing anyway. I just feel like I'm getting increasingly stressed by it and becoming unhappy.

Sorry, I know that I'm not being very helpful in response to your support.

OP posts:
Janos · 13/02/2009 00:03

I think it's ok just to ask questions!

SGB has made some good points, a lot of it is about context. One glass of wine 5 nights a week for example, that is not excessive (I would say).

But if he is drinking a lot over that time (obviously you know best) then that is different.

worriedaboutdp · 13/02/2009 00:04

He gets defensive if I push it but will acknowledge that he drinks too much but not that he is in anyway dependent iyswim.

I think that it impacts on our family life in that eg I know he will not be able to interact with dd and me in any meaningful way on Sunday mornings. He often leaves his car at pubs so then somehow we have to get it back the next day or he is too hungover to drive even if his car is at home and so he needs to gt a taxi to work.

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Janos · 13/02/2009 00:06

Sounds like it is starting to be an issue then, although a bit worrying he won't talk to you about it.

Not sure what to suggest but you can keep coming back here for support.

I do know where you are coming from as my DP has problems with alcohol.

worriedaboutdp · 13/02/2009 00:12

Thanks Janos, sgb and Slarty.

This has been helpful and I will come back to this thread if I can tomorrow though I will be at work so might not get much opportunity.

I suspect that there is an element of both dp having a problem and me being more anxious than I need to be about it and both of us needing to change. I'm not sure where my anxiety comes from as no one in my family or his has a history of alcohol problems so it's not like I've had a bad experience or he has for that matter.

OP posts:
Janos · 13/02/2009 00:21

That's the good thing about MN, you can come back to threads and there is always someone to talk to .

AttilaTheMeerkat · 13/02/2009 07:14

Would suggest you talk to Al-anon as they can help family members of problem drinkers.

His drinking is impacting on your family life and it is thus a problem. It has become the elephant in the room because he keeps denying the extent of his problem. You are also becoming increasingly unhappy by the whole situation. I think your anxiety is caused by his drinking and the consequences that stem from that.

Your partner is likely too underestimating how much he is actually drinking weekly and this is impacting on your family life. He is not spending time with yourselves on the weekend, you also have to fetch back his car from the pub. The other thing that is worrying re him is his denial (he is saying that he is not dependent - I would actually argue he has become dependent. Denial is commonly seen in these situations too) and saying that he does not drink every day. You don't actually have to drink every day to be or to become alcohol dependent.

Has he ever tried to stop drinking and if so how long did that last?. My guess is he cannot give up drinking for any real period of time (what's the longest in your reckoning that he has gone without alcohol).

Was he drinking to this extent when you first met him?. If so did you think that once he got with you and had a child he would somehow "change"?. Am sorry to ask those but these are questions that you need to answer to your own self.

Many women in these situations end up as their partner's enabler - how many times have you made excuses for him and to your own self (not just your family) re his behaviour?. Likely more than once. And I reckon as well not many (if any) people know the full extent of his drinking problem.

You cannot and should not enable him - enabling will only give you a false sense of control. Enabling as well shields the person from the consequences of their actions.

If he leaves his car at the pub do not fetch it back for him!. Do not make excuses for him, no covering up for him as of now.

An ultimatum won't work unless you are prepared to see it through to the letter. Also you cannot keep issuing them.

This is also not just about you any more - there is also your DD to consider here too. She has no say. Children who grow up in a household where one of the parents is alcoholic/alcohol dependent can themselves go onto develop their own set of emotional problems as adults because of the drinking and are more likely to choose an alcoholic for a partner. You cannot leave her that potential legacy.

I realise you do love him but sometimes love is not enough. Love turns to hate very quickly and you may end up completely resenting him for what he has done.

You cannot save him or rescue him ultimately if he does not want to be helped - you can only save your own self and your DD here.

Do seek support for your own self and contact Al-anon. They are very helpful, I will put up their details for you.

AttilaTheMeerkat · 13/02/2009 07:17

www.al-anonuk.org.uk

AttilaTheMeerkat · 13/02/2009 07:17

Al-Anon Family Groups UK & Eire

61 Great Dover Street
London
SE1 4YF
Tel: 020 7403 0888 (Helpline 10am - 10pm, 365 days a year)
Fax: 020 7378 9910
Email: [email protected]

AttilaTheMeerkat · 13/02/2009 07:32

There are no guarantees here - he could very well go onto lose everything and he could still choose to carry on drinking.

You are only responsible for your own self and your child ultimately - NOT him.

worriedaboutdp · 13/02/2009 08:36

Thankyou Attila.

I think he actually drank less when we first got together as he didn't have the money to spend on it but now that he has he drinks more than he used to.

I am worried that we are meant to be ttc dc2 and that if his drinking doesn't change then life will be very difficult for me with 2 dc.

OP posts:
AttilaTheMeerkat · 13/02/2009 09:28

worriedaboutdp,

You have written the following previously:-

"I think that it impacts on our family life in that eg I know he will not be able to interact with dd and me in any meaningful way on Sunday mornings. He often leaves his car at pubs so then somehow we have to get it back the next day or he is too hungover to drive even if his car is at home and so he needs to gt a taxi to work".

TTC a second child in this sort of circumstances is not ideal and I would actually be seriously putting this whole ttc idea on hold. He is showing no signs of actually feeling he has a problem with his drinking. This situation will also not get any better with a second child in the picture; children do not make a relationship with underlying alcohol issues in it any less rocky.

I hope as well you do not fetch his car back for him; he should be doing this. You cannot and should not be enabling him for the reasons I stated earlier. Enabling helps nobody.

I would also consider making your home an alcohol free one. Do not drink alcohol with him either; you doing this in front of him can be seen by him to be condoning his behaviour.

Do talk to Al-anon; they can be very helpful.

worriedaboutdp · 13/02/2009 22:30

Thanks again Attila, your link was very helpful. I have seen your advice on relationships before and you are always very astute.

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