Boundaries for porn, alcohol and cocaine addict husband

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Hello

I'm hoping you can help me. My DH has been in rehab for the past month for his porn, alcohol and cocaine addiction. I'm attending family sessions and have been asked to come up with some boundaries. I'm really struggling as I feel like he will say I am controlling. Can anyone help me with reasonable boundaries given the above addictions that I can ask of him?

Thanks!

I just read he only plans to stay for 3 weeks. A programme of 12 to 16 weeks is usually recommended. Then aftercare, and if following a 12 step programme, NA meetings.

None of those things happening in the same house as you and your children is a perfectly fair and not controlling boundary to set.
And how is he going to get hold of his coke with under 5s in his charge, cramping his style? He's completely bullshitting on that one.

No advice really ... have a long hard think about what YOU want and need from this relationship .. add up the proc and cons snd decide wether or not you will be content with what he is offering or not in this case ..

He is a little shady & delusional in my opinion .. hr is not earning back your trust and not being truthful either

As someone else said, a boundary is not a law and it’s not up to you to monitor him 24/7. But if you do find him crossing a boundary, then he has to immediately take the action he agreed to when you set up the boundaries (eg leave).

OP, you should also be making plans to leave.

Of course he won’t get the DC 50/50! You’re the primary carer and he’s a proven drug addict! He’s just saying that to make sure you don’t dump him.

The 50:50 is just a threat to keep you in place.
I lived with an addict . I think the nail in the coffin was the trust . After the last time we split up , he wanted to try again. He said he would give up drugs . I said basically heard it all before . His response was oh I am ready now I was just saying it before .

Your h seems to be going through the motions planning to change nothing

I would get myself in the housing list , start getting your eggs in a row . Are you a director of the company because I would have concerns there too.

You need this awful man out of your life OP. He will not change.

Op may well need to leave this man and put the mental health of her children first. But some of these replies are awful. The man is not well and may die from his illness. Addiction treatment is often awful and as this thread shows so is the ongoing public perception. Op I’m so sorry you are going through this and I agree you need support for yourself. There are no winners with addiction. It’s a horrible and woefully untreated illness.

I am so sorry, I can 100 percent understand how it's been 10 years especially if he was functioning like normal. You really need to tell the therapist and him that for the relationship to work you need full disclosure. You need to say that him saying he wants to draw a line is unsympathetic to what you have been through as a bystander and is minimizing the impact not knowing is having on your life!

The only way this will work is if he tells you everything and the fact he won't after telling you he's a alcoholic drug and porn addict just seems like he has more to hide? I know it must be so hard but try not to let him back into your life unless he is willing to open up and share everything. I can't imagine how scary it is finding out your living with a stranger

Just read he threatened to take the children half the time if you leave. He isn't planning to change anything, that amount of aggression isn't exactly screaming someone who is ready to come home from rehab! You need to protect your family, he won't get custody as you have always been the sole care provider and he is unstable

Addiction treatment is often awful and as this thread shows so is the ongoing public perception

I think the negative comments are about OP's DH's attitude to his own recovery, not about addicts in general. I'm an ex addict myself, so am well aware how difficult recovery is.

I think the boundaries you are being asked to set are to demonstrate that you can set appropriate boundaries and take a firm approach to safeguard your children and promote a positive family life.

You have got some major issues here and it's not appropriate for you to be asked to deal with them alone. Firstly I agree that he needs to describe exactly to you everything he did. Until he does that you cannot even begin to have him back. Secondly he needs to acknowledge who he has affected and how. You need to voice your side too. Then you need to talk about what would make things better.

Second he continues to get recovery supoort when he comes out. Cocaine anonymous groups etc. Third 100% control over finances. I couldn't give a shit if that is controlling, he is an addict and if you want to help then cut that off otherwise you are enabling. Fourth block all the porn stuff, there is software for that. Lastly 100% honesty. No demands, threats, bullying. I suspect he has told rehab he has a wonderfully supportive wife at home etc...

Personally I think the violation of trust is massive. You have to heal from that. Depending on how long this went on for I would consider him getting a six or twelve month rental nearby. He seriously has to reform but may need the support and motivation of his kids to do it.

I have no idea if it will work, its not an easy road, but you have posted under addiction support .

God ten years - definitely a rental nearby and he doesn't come back until he has reformed and you have rebuilt your relationship (and worked out if you can love this man).