Husband is a functional alcoholic
Hi, I am new to this app and trying to figure out how to navigate it. My husband struggles with alcohol and I just don’t know what to do. He is an amazing father and husband, but cannot go a day without going into physical withdrawals. I’m terrified his health is declining (doesn’t work out anymore, doesn’t really eat, refuses to go to the doctor). We are recently married but he apparently has been addicted for 10 years. We have lived together for a while and that’s when I really found out how serious the problem was. He doesn’t get belligerent and is very caring. It’s hard for me to watch him not function at his full potential. I don’t know what to do.
@brightPeach3155
You are not alone. Recognizing it is harder when they are functional. they do not want to see it either. they feel they make it to work they get things done there is not a problem until there is something that goes wrong. Health or trouble with being caught driving. losing a job as the signs get clearer all the time even in a functional drunk. Maybe older kids or friends or family knowing it and not wanting anything to do with them ...
My now sober spouse was like that. For all the things we dealt with in life I wish I could have made a bigger difference in having him see it was a problem. Addicts of any kind will not be long term successful until they see it as the problem and quit for themselves. people quit thing short term for others, but it does not last.
I also wish I could show and tell so many partners or spouse to alcoholics the sad aftereffects.
SO many different health problems that will make our retirement years something I dread. if we had half the money spent on alcohol, we would have been able to retire early.
it is long term damage that we cannot change as we age. Of course, some dismiss it as age, but I see the difference.
Memory loss and slower cognitive function. Refusal to accept it is them, NOT everyone else because I feel deep down my spouse knows this was self-inflicted.