My Husband Drinks Too Much
I am the wife of an alcoholic. It's something I worked hard to conceal.
And it’s really ironic that even though my story has a very happy ending and I am over three years removed from those worst years of my life, I still don’t like talking about it.
Substance abuse, bipolar disorder, and even suicide attempts tried to rob us of our marriage and even our lives during that period. It was a dark, dark time.
But now my husband and I both feel like God wants us to share what we went through. We know there are people who are where we were, and are desperately needing to hear a message of hope.
But it’s not fun to revisit that time of our lives, so we don’t talk about it much.
I did write a blog post about it once, and shared what we went through a couple of times on social media, and then thought ‘There. I shared my story. I hope it helps someone.’ After all, I don’t want to overdo it, or shove it down people’s throats. It's not exactly a happy topic.
God, however, apparently has other plans.
All I could think about is how I needed to do doing more to help women who are struggling in a home with an alcoholic spouse.
I remember back to feeling hopeless, to feeling enveloped in darkness, to feeling like it would never EVER be a happy marriage again.
I remember being worried about my kids, being terrified for my husband, and living in such a state of panic and fear that I was covered with hives for months, feeling like I was going to have a nervous breakdown at any second.
I remember feeling incredibly alone.
And I know there is someone….probably lots of someones….out there right now who are in that very place.
God kept telling me that nothing good comes from silence. He kept impressing upon me on a regular basis that I need to keep talking, to keep shouting my message of hope from the rooftops, until I've reached as many of those women as I can.
I want to help these women learn how to care for themselves through all of this, and most importantly how to lean on the Lord. Because that can truly make the difference between getting through it in one piece, or not.
When I was going through it myself I wasn't very good at either one of those things for most of it, and it took a massive toll on me.
The husband I knew and loved didn't make an appearance very often. Most of the time I lived with his counterpart, who I couldn't have a real conversation with, and didn't even like.
I desperately searched for answers online. I tried to find stories of women who had been in the same situation.
When I finally found one whose story sounded somewhat similar, I saw that she also offered up materials that I thought might be helpful.
I remember sitting there with my credit card in my hand, desperate for some direction. But her marriage had ultimately ended, and while that may have been the right choice for her and her situation, it was not the ending I wanted for myself. So my search for answers continued.
As a Christian I was also desperate for spiritual guidance, so I looked into Al-anon since they are a faith-based organization.
While I did gain some very helpful knowledge from their teachings, I could never make it to a meeting because of my work schedule, or having to stay home with my young son.
Plus truth be told there was a part of me that felt too embarrassed to show up there. I now know that I should have done anything I could to get there. It is SO incredibly important to be supported when you're going through this.
But I didn't, so my feelings of isolation continued.
Between the shame I felt about what was happening in my home, and the feelings of not wanting anyone to think badly of my situation (or even my husband), I kept much of it to myself. I told my friends that I didn’t want advice, and I tried to keep my extended family from realizing how bad things were.
Instead I searched the house for bottles, went through his car, threatened, yelled, and screamed in an attempt to control the situation on my own.
Until it all finally blew up into a million pieces and there was nowhere left to hide.
That is when God began his miraculous restoration.
He delivered my husband, myself, and our marriage from addiction, anger, hopelessness, hatred, trust issues, feelings of betrayal, and every other relationship-crushing problem that had made its way into our marriage.*
During that time I thought our relationship was surely destroyed, but instead we will celebrate our 13th wedding anniversary this year completely in love and relating to each other better than we ever have.
Are you in a relationship that is crumbling? Do you feel sad, hopeless, lonely, or scared?
I know how it feels to try to carry the weight of it alone. But you don’t have to.
I have written a course just for wives of alcoholics that I poured my heart and soul into. (see below)
It is called 'Married to Addiction' and it is full of both encouragement and direction based on all of the lessons I learned from doing so many things wrong when I was in your situation. Things that hurt myself, things that hurt my husband, and things that further hurt my marriage. But I didn't know any better at the time.
I urge you to pick this course up if you feel it could help you.
Right now I am offering it on a pay-what-you-can basis because I want everyone who needs this to be able to have it.
It also includes a free devotional version, so that once you complete the course you can always have encouragement and inspiration right at your fingertips.
You can find out more, and access the course, by clicking on the button below.
Praying for you,
Julie
(*Please note that at no time did I feel unsafe in my marriage. If there is even the possibility of any sort of abuse in your relationship, please get to a safe place first and foremost.)
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The 'Married to Addiction' Course
does your husband drink too much?
If you have an alcoholic spouse whose drinking is affecting your marriage, I highly encourage you to take this course.
It was written specifically for the wife of an alcoholic by someone who deeply understands what you are going through. (You can read my full story above.)
It is full of both encouragement and direction based on all of the lessons I learned from doing so many things wrong when I was in your situation. Things that hurt myself, things that hurt my husband, and things that further hurt my marriage. But I didn't know any better at the time.
Please pick up this course if you can relate to any of the above. I want you to have it if you need it, regardless of your financial situation, so right now I am offering it on a pay-what-you-can basis. You don't have to go through this alone.
My hope is that it will offer you some much needed daily encouragement and hope as you move through this difficult journey with your loved one.