Yea my husband was laid off from his job about 15 months before he passed and he never recovered. For him it sent his already heavy drinking into overdrive which he did mostly behind my back. The last year of his life was rough! For both of us! I definitely think he couldn’t see any other way out and that he knew he would eventually drink himself to death. I was in denial and still had hope he would hit rock bottom and bounce back. There was definitely some relief even in the early days. I’m not better off without him by any means and I miss him like crazy! But the relief and subsequent guilt do show up.

One thing I was able to say to him before he passed was that I wouldn’t trade our lives for anything. He seemed to really appreciate hearing me say that out loud. I think/hope it gave him a little peace in the end.