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Asked 2/13/2008

What do I do?

I'm a 36 year old man next week. My wife and I have been married for nine years this coming march.We have a 12 year old son. My wife is an alcoholic/ addict, and has spent the better part of the last nine years intoxicated. We fight about her drinking and sometimes she'll take off for a day or more on a bender. Sometimes on these benders she'll resort back to drug use. Today for an example she didn't come home from last night, school was cancelled, and I had to start making phone calls at 5:45 a.m. for a babysitter. She also has issues with anxiety, depression, social phobias, and suffers from to spinal diseases. She stopped working just prior to our wedding to have time with our son, but she spent the whole first 1 1/2 years drinking a 12 pack of beer and a pint of blackberry brandy. She becomes beligerant, moody, and unpredictable when she drinks. When she drinks she'll start at 7 or 8 in the morning and go till 9-2 that night. She'll drink this way every day for six months or more at a time. When she stops drinking it usually doesn't last but a week or two. on a reaaly good stretch she'll go 3-6 months, but that is very rare. All this drinking and she mixes it with scripts and sometimes even worse. She's applied for disability but was turned down based on my income. I have consulted with attorneys regarding divorce. They all seem to agree that custody of my son being given to me should not be an issue, this of course is my #1 concern.

 
 
 
 
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Answer 1/3 - Submitted 2/13/2008

I agree, her lifestyle makes her completely unfit to care for a preteen son. Not even a question here. Write down everytime that she drinks, uses drugs, etc. so you have documented all the events to use as evidence. Good luck and sorry to hear about this. Living with an alcoholic can be so exhausting. Has she ever been to rehab? It sounds like its time for an intervention.

You may also want to consider seeing a child psychologist because growing up with a mother like that can create a sense of insecurity in such a young boy. He's at a vulnerable age right now and if you can find someone to help him deal with his feelings about this you may save him from a similar fate.

 
 

Answer 2/3 - Submitted 2/13/2008

Yea, i have to agree too, she doesn't really seem like a fit parent to raise your child. Jodi has some great advice

 
 

Answer 3/3 - Submitted 2/13/2008

Hi Scott,
I was in your very shoes for 16 years with my ex-wife. It has been my experience that things will not change. You and your boy deserve better, so the only way to make things better for you both is to make changes yourself. It is very scary to do something about the situation because even though you hate the situation that your in, it's familiar and the alternative is unknown.
You obviously love your wife and I'm not suggesting divorce, even though sometimes it takes such a drastic measure to make improvements in your life. Whatever you do, be it counciling, intervention or a divorce, YOU are the one who will have to make the changes in your life. Good Luck

 
 
 
 
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