Fran,

Just popping in to say how sorry I am that you are going through this. Alcoholism is in my family -- my father and his brother are both alcoholics.

Your H may be quite a bit like my father -- type 4, emotional, easily stressed, very much the worrier (actually sounds like me, only without the alcohol). My type 1 mother pretty much took over mothering my father when she married him. I don't know how she has managed all these years. He suffered a stroke about 4 years ago and she is his full time caregiver. She recently told me that she was glad she had stayed married to him because if she hadn't, who would care for him now? She always saw him as someone she had to take care of, and she most definitely enabled him. (And I am not suggesting that you should stay married. I always thought my mother was crazy to put up with it. My aunt divorced my uncle because it was so bad.)

Your H is no doubt suffering from depression, which is only exacerbated by the alcohol. Depression will make him procrastinate so that he can't seem to get anything done. Add ADD to the mix and he's got big problems.

Alcoholics have no idea how bad they look. It was often embarrassing to be seen with my father because his personal hygiene left a lot to be desired. Never mind the embarrassing things that he did and said.

Lil is absolutely correct in everything she has said. (Not that she needed me to say that. ;\) ) I agree that Alanon meetings will be enormously helpful for you. I always wished my mother had gone to Alanon, but she never would. ("Why should I, I'm not the one with the problem." )

Hang in there Fran. It sounds like you've got a good handle on things.

mrs.cac

P.S. Lil -- so sorry about all you've been dealing with too.

Last edited by mrs.cac4; 12/10/07 03:15 PM.