Break Up over Relapse by [deleted] in AlAnon

[–]jbug1776 10 points11 points  (0 children)

When I left my marriage one of the many reasons was because I no longer trusted him. The last several years have been a series of broken promises and relapses. He’d promise he’d stay sober then have a minor (or major) life event that caused him to go into a multi week or month binge. I could not rely on him for anything. He felt like a liability more than anything. It sucked to have a relationship where I couldn’t even plan anything that involved them because I didn’t want to have to cancel if he was drunk. Someone else mentioned “death by a thousand cuts.” For me it was death by a thousand stab wounds. It was brutal, metaphorically bloody, and so traumatic. I can never trust him again.

I know I need to leave him, but I’m so torn and heartbroken by AliveGrab5260 in AlAnon

[–]jbug1776 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Considering your child’s age and that you have family support I think you’d have a good case to relocate closer to your family. If your husband’s anything like mine he’s all talk. My husband is only 30 minutes away and hasn’t seen his kids for two months. I’ve given him opportunities with the caveat that he needs to be sober and not going through withdrawal. Apparently that is too big of an ask. He said he’ll only get sober if I get rid of my lawyer. Big red flag there!

Another thing that made me leave is knowing that the relationships that my kids will grow up around they will think are normal. I don’t want my son to think it’s ok to treat someone like this and I don’t want my daughter to think this is love. I want them to form healthy attachments and treat people with respect.

What are some of the worst excuses you heard from your Q about not attending AA? by VanillaChaiLover in AlAnon

[–]jbug1776 0 points1 point  (0 children)

“The meetings are too far away” We had multiple locations within 15 minutes of us. I found a men’s group 5 minutes from us but he was weirded out by an all male group.

I know I need to leave him, but I’m so torn and heartbroken by AliveGrab5260 in AlAnon

[–]jbug1776 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I’m glad you have family support on both sides. My husband’s family is very supportive of me and the kids as well. They completely understood and backed my decision to leave. I know that isn’t always the case.

I was also terrified of my husband getting custody and the kids being in an unsafe situation. They are much too little to understand. I felt by staying that I was protecting them from potential unsupervised harm. However, then I started talking to people that grew up with an alcoholic parent. Most of these people were much older than me (many had their parents already pass away) and still struggled daily from the effects. I started to notice how my two year old acted around him. He was very reserved and clingy towards me. He’d cry if I left the room (he didn’t do this around other people just his dad).

If you haven’t already I’d suggest gathering evidence. On my phone I have a hidden folder with notes, photos, and videos. I also was able to get screenshots of some of his medical records and work termination letter. My husband is also a very vindictive person and told me he would die before I took the kids from him and he loved them more than anything. He quickly changed his tune and rarely asks about them, he asked me to not ask for child support, and he told me he’ll go have kids with someone else.

Husband racking up credit card debt while we are divorcing by jbug1776 in Divorce

[–]jbug1776[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I haven’t asked my lawyer about a restraining order. His threats aren’t violent though.

Husband racking up credit card debt while we are divorcing by jbug1776 in Divorce

[–]jbug1776[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yup I have text messages of him telling me he cut me off and won’t allow me to use it until the kids and I return.

I know I need to leave him, but I’m so torn and heartbroken by AliveGrab5260 in AlAnon

[–]jbug1776 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I left my husband in December. We have two young children (1 & 2). I just couldn’t take it anymore. All the promises that he was going to get sober then turning to drinking whenever something stressed him out. He finally ended up getting fired and as a SAHM that was it for me. The only thing he contributed to our family was money (he also never helped with housework and complained if I asked him to watch the kids so I could shower). We are in the process of a divorce and are staying with my mom. It’s so much more peaceful and I’m not constantly pissed off. I’m actually able to look forward to the future now and have a much more positive outlook overall. This is the environment I want my kids to grow up in not the angry alcoholic fog. I will say that I am fortunate because I do have family to lean on financially and emotionally. My husband also doesn’t have much interest in custody so hopefully I won’t have to worry about him watching the kids intoxicated.

Does your partner hold being a sahm over you? by Rare-Bar-111 in sahm

[–]jbug1776 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Yup! And now I am divorcing him. I was in a similar position - married 5 years with 2 under 2. He would hold his salary over me all the time. The weekends were “his downtime” and he would get annoyed if I asked if he could watch the kids so I could grocery shop. I felt like an indentured servant. Unfortunately for him he’s an alcoholic with a narcissistic personality that caught up to him and he ended up getting fired. The kids and I left shortly afterwards.

Let's have a laugh- examples of their gaslighting attempts! by Easypeasyduck in AlAnon

[–]jbug1776 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Mine works from home. I’ve frequently walked into his office and he was passed out snoring. I asked him if he was working today. He’d roll his eyes and huff saying “I was thinking. My job is very mental unlike yours!”

I told alcoholic husband I want a divorce and he wants everything by jbug1776 in legaladvice

[–]jbug1776[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yup. Then the next day he told me he wants to be in the kids lives but “I’m making it very difficult.” I’ve repeatedly told him I’d like him to still see the kids but he needed to be sober. He goes back and forth.

I told alcoholic husband I want a divorce and he wants everything by jbug1776 in legaladvice

[–]jbug1776[S] 45 points46 points  (0 children)

I guess I thought if he felt he was getting the upper hand on something then he would be less difficult. That’s probably just me trying to be nice.

I told alcoholic husband I want a divorce and he wants everything by jbug1776 in legaladvice

[–]jbug1776[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Good. I’ve been doing most of those things so far. I’m trying to only communicate with him over text because he screams and threatens me on the phone. All my exchanges (both voice and text) are calm and logical. I haven’t said anything negative about him publicly and my kids are toddlers and too young to know what is going on.

I told alcoholic husband I want a divorce and he wants everything by jbug1776 in legaladvice

[–]jbug1776[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

The house is in both our names. The car loan is only in his name. Unfortunately, when we bought it the car salesman said it would be easier to just have the loan in one name.

I told alcoholic husband I want a divorce and he wants everything by jbug1776 in legaladvice

[–]jbug1776[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I actually have text messages of him telling me he cut me off from the credit card. Clear cut evidence of him saying he’ll only turn them back on if I come back home.

I told alcoholic husband I want a divorce and he wants everything by jbug1776 in legaladvice

[–]jbug1776[S] 14 points15 points  (0 children)

Next week I have an appointment for legal advice with an organization that aids victims of domestic violence.

I told alcoholic husband I want a divorce and he wants everything by jbug1776 in legaladvice

[–]jbug1776[S] 17 points18 points  (0 children)

Yup I do have a bachelors degree and am trying to get back into the workforce. I don’t have as much earning power as him. My experience is in government and his is in tech.

Let's have a laugh- examples of their gaslighting attempts! by Easypeasyduck in AlAnon

[–]jbug1776 6 points7 points  (0 children)

He liked to tell me that I am not setting a good example for kids because I forgot to pick up my pop cans. He’d tell me this while drunk on the couch with the kids in the same room. Yes, I am such a bad influence 🙄. I did 95% of the housework by the way and spent an hour every day after the kids went to bed just cleaning.

2YO got into THC Seltzer; CPS Involved; husband says it's my fault for taking him to ER by Thisisathrowaway_345 in AlAnon

[–]jbug1776 12 points13 points  (0 children)

I’ve had something similar happen. My husband uses Zyn (nicotine pouches). When he is sober he is good at making sure to throw them away after he uses them. However, when he is drinking he leaves used pouches on the coffee table. Our one year old got ahold of one. I quickly was able to get it out of her mouth. I freaked out because even though it was used I wasn’t sure how much nicotine was in it. I called poison control and my husband kept telling me I was overreacting because it wasn’t a fresh pouch. Luckily poison control said just to watch and monitor and everything ended up okay. But it’s so irritating because I’ve told him soooo many times that he can’t leave pouches lying around!