Severely need advice

I think it sounds like he may have some underlying mental disorder and the alcohol is what he's used to cope with that.
His doctor is telling him it's sleep and/or depression because he's not telling them about the extent of the alcohol consumption.
He needs to see a psychologist, psychiatrist, and seek treatment for substance abuse.
If he's not willing to do that (which it sounds like he's not since he's not currently admitting an issue), then you need to get out immediately.
 
You have gotten some really good advice here by people who have lived through/with the same problem.

From my experience, it will never get better unless he stops drinking completely. He is an alcoholic. Right now he is functioning but sooner or later it will get worse.
The stress a baby brings will affect his alcoholism, maybe he will use this time to confront it and he can get better, but he has to stop, and stop 100% he can not just “cut down”. Think of it like an anaphylactic food allergy, if you have anaphylactic allergy to peanuts you can’t just “have a few on the weekends”. It really is the same thing, quit 100% or nothing.

For the baby’s sake ask him to try AA meetings. He needs to talk with older men who have been in his same place (about to be a father and want to change). He CAN beat it. But it will be very HARD. It will take more than you realize right now for him to get control.

Alcoholism is a Life Long Struggle. He will always be an alcoholic. He CAN be an alcoholic that chooses not to drink. After a while it will get easier, but it will always be there.

If he chooses to get help be there for him like you would for any other disease. I wont sugar coat it, this will be the hardest thing he has ever done. It will also require a lot from you. More than you can imagine right now.

If he does not get help then keeping yourself and your baby healthy and happy depends on you. Of course have a plan in mind if it comes to either your or the baby’s safety!

Everyone has struggles. He may be able to function for years just like this, holding down a job and not being a real safety concern, other than driving. I can 100% promise you he is driving while intoxicated.
Again from personal experience from someone who has a successful 21 year marriage to an alcoholic. He can beat it. YOU have to accept he has this disease and see clearly, quit making excuses. You have another life you are responsible for now.

Good Luck
 
I guess I’m just wondering if it really is alcohol related or something else is going on? He’s talked to doctors and they’ve told him it’s sleep or depression, but never alcohol related. So that’s what he believes

If he's not honest with you about how much he is drinking, there is no way he is being honest with his doctors. They can't identify the real problem because he's not telling them what's really going on. Sure, there may be other issues like depression that are occuring at the same time as the drinking but it doesn't change the fact that he's an alcoholic.

It is very easy to make excuses for the people that we love, but I strongly suggest you take a hard look at what he is doing and how strongly it is affecting you. And then please, seek out a counselor or an AA support group, or a pastor. Talking to someone outside of the situation is important for you, especially given that you are now pregnant.
 

Your husband is an alcoholic.

Is there any hope? I’m severely close to flying back home and living with my parents but I love him so much and I just can’t think about leaving him.

There is hope, but you have to be strong both for yourself and your husband. This isn't something to be wishy-washy about. Confront him about it. Really confront him. If you go to church, talk to your pastor. If there are any close friends in the area, confide in them. Set up an intervention. Tell him this has to be fixed. Not only is he affecting his own health, he is ruining your relationship.

Unfortunately, substance abusers usually need to hit "rock bottom" for them to realize they really have an issue. It wasn't until my mom broke her ankle for the second time that it sunk in she needed help.

Find an Al anon chapter and start going to that. Ask others for advice. Try to convince him to go to AA or rehab.

I don't have more advice, and my advice might not be that great. My mom went into rehab when I was 7. So it's not like I really knew how all of that went down for her.
 
Your husband is not getting that drunk off 3 or 4 beers. That is mearly the alcohol that he's letting you see him drink. From your descriptions it is quite clear he is drinking other alcohol in secret to get to the stage that he is slurring his words, getting sick etc. He knows he's hiding this from you.

That isn't necessarily true, he may very well be getting that drunk after just a few beers.
An alcoholic's liver is a damaged liver so it doesn't function like a healthy one. It can take his liver that much longer to process the alcohol and therefore he needs less alcohol to get drunk.
This obviously doesn't happen immediately, it takes a person abusing alcohol for awhile, but who knows how long this has been going on with the OP's dh.
He very well could be drinking much more than the OP has seen (or found) but sometimes it really does only take a few beers for an alcoholic to become THAT intoxicated.
 
I guess I’m just wondering if it really is alcohol related or something else is going on? He’s talked to doctors and they’ve told him it’s sleep or depression, but never alcohol related. So that’s what he believes

Doctors can only provide advice based upon what he tells them. Do you think he tells his doctor how much he drinks? Very unlikely.
 
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That isn't necessarily true, he may very well be getting that drunk after just a few beers.
An alcoholic's liver is a damaged liver so it doesn't function like a healthy one. It can take his liver that much longer to process the alcohol and therefore he needs less alcohol to get drunk.
This obviously doesn't happen immediately, it takes a person abusing alcohol for awhile, but who knows how long this has been going on with the OP's dh.
In my personal experience with alcoholics they tend to build up a larger tolerance and require more and more alcohol to become noticeably drunk. However that is just anecdotal on my part. I suppose it is possible that he is really that drunk off of 4 beers, but since OP stated she also found fireball in the cooler, I'm guessing he has hard liquor stashed around the house and uses the beers to hide the fact that he's drinking harder stuff. All guessing and assumptions on my part, of course.
 
In my personal experience with alcoholics they tend to build up a larger tolerance and require more and more alcohol to become noticeably drunk. However that is just anecdotal on my part. I suppose it is possible that he is really that drunk off of 4 beers, but since OP stated she also found fireball in the cooler, I'm guessing he has hard liquor stashed around the house and uses the beers to hide the fact that he's drinking harder stuff. All guessing and assumptions on my part, of course.

I am speaking from my experience as well. It obviously depends on many individual factors.
I was just pointing out the possibility that it can be just what she is finding around the house. Not that it makes it any better of course. Any alcohol for an alcoholic is too much.
 
There are oh so many rushes to judgement, assumptions and leaps here.

Nobody here really knows what the issue is. Alcoholic? Maybe. Seems logical. Mental health issues? Maybe. Stress? Maybe. Something else? Maybe. Combination of things? Maybe. To me, it's putting the cart before the horse for so many here to label him as an alcoholic and/or say "leave him", blah, blah, blah.

OP, for what it's worth here's my $.02. Clearly there is an issue, there is no question about that. Clearly it's such an issue that you're resorting to sleeping on the couch, considering going to your parents, posting here. I think it's great that you're reaching out, don't get me wrong. It also seems clear that you do love him and ideally would want to see this get resolved, especially now that you're pregnant (congrats by the way). As difficult of a conversation as it will likely be....probably the most difficult one you've ever had in your life...you need to sit down and have an honest talk with him. Tell him all the things you've told us here. Tell him how it makes you feel. Tell him your concerns. Also tell him your wishes and desires. Be clear this is a major issue for him and for you and it needs to be addressed, in no uncertain terms. If you want it all to work out, also be clear that you are by his side to support him while he gets help (which he must do on on his own, for himself). Also be clear what your feelings are if he doesn't get help. Hopefully he'll truly listen and be willing to do whatever he needs to do in order to be 100% clear and honest what the problem really is. Maybe he doesn't even know what the problem is. Only then will he (and you) be able to work on a path forward.

Good luck!!!!
 
Why is it that you and your DH agreed to no longer drink once you entered college? And why was it an issue when he mentioned he wanted to casually start drinking, before you knew there was a problem? Casual social alcohol consumption - something most of us do - is very normal and harmless if done responsibly. It's peculiar to me that new college kids would agree not to drink unless there were signs of potential issues early on.

I agree with PPs that he is likely drinking more than he's allowing you to see, and the fact that he's hiding it is evident of this. His odd behavior could be a result of this, or medication he's taking (if any) as a PP mentioned. It could also be an undiagnosed mental illness unrelated to alcoholism but may be driving him to that behavior. I have a friend who is bipolar and exhibits some of the things you've mentioned when she is not on her medication - crazy talking, compulsive behavior (alcohol consumption could be this), extreme highs and lows, noticeable differences in personality. Her disorder can be triggered by stress too. I think it would be beneficial to be seen by a mental health professional if your DH is willing.

Every scenario and relationship is different, but if it were me, I'd sit DH down to have a heart to heart discussion. Not in an accusatory or tough love way, but offering support and understanding. Letting him know you're a team and on his side. I would let him know of your alcohol can/bottle findings and that you're not mad, but you want to have open dialogue and communication about it so as not to put strain on your relationship and unborn child. Try to explain the personality changes you've noticed in a way where he may not get defensive. I know this is all easier said than done, but communication is key and the only thing that will push him towards realization and help. Best of luck to you!
 
Others are doing a good job talking about your husband's alcoholism. I want to talk about the baby, because, frankly, that is where your priority needs to lie right now. You have seven months to get this straightened out so it is a very tall order and you need to make choices asap.

Whereas before you became a mother (and yes, you are a mother already!) you had time to futz around, now you don't anymore. How is your husband going to be a partner in taking care of a baby if he is drinking to excess daily? Are you going to trust that he's not going to drop the baby on its head, forget that its in the bath? Do you really want to have to oversee not one, but two individuals all the time? Will he be solely responsible for the baby while you're working? Others mentioned driving - hard to avoid. What if there is a DUI, or a bad accident? Will you be still be dealing with all this BS while you're trying to deal with being a new mother and the needs of an infant, as well? That will last about a week until you're done with it. It's probably hard to imagine right now how hard raising a child is even with a perfect partner. Having one who is child-like or dysfunctional is not something you are going to want to live with, take our word for it.

He needs to get his act together NOW, and you need to make it happen or think about getting resettled elsewhere by the time the baby comes. Your resources are Al Anon, re-visiting your primary care physician with your husband and telling the truth about what is going on, marriage counseling with or without him, and even your child's future pediatrician. Bottom line is that his drinking needs to stop completely, as he is alcoholic and continuing to drink isn't an option, as he can't control it. Again, your most important priority is bringing your child into a good life, not one where its dad has a severe drinking problem, which would be very unfair to your child. Please think of the implications of that (which may also influence your child's future drinking, among many other things like basic safety). I feel for you, I really do. It sounds like you are just figuring out the severity of this problem, and you now have the added stress of becoming a new mother on top of it. You may not be able to deal with both things, especially in such a short amount of time, so you have to prioritize. Again, your baby is your first priority, as it is completely dependent on you; your husband has choices. I really hope for your family's sake he makes the right one. But you have to take the bull by the horns here and make your own choices.

https://community.whattoexpect.com/forums/march-2016-babies/topic/alcoholic-husband-212.html
 
Thank you everyone for your replies. I think some of what I said got turned into a little more severe than it actually is. He’s only gotten sick twice in the last 3 years. It’s not like he throws up every week or anything like that. I’m not making excuses for him but don’t want anyone thinking it’s a regular thing. Both times were after he fell asleep.

The whole not knowing what he’s saying or doing only happens after he’s been asleep and wakes up again after sleeping for about an hour or less. It’s always when he wakes up and has to go to the bathroom. Again this doesn’t happen all the time but happens more frequently than the puking. It only happens when he forgets to go to the bathroom before bed.

The thing that I’ve been noticing more often is the free talking and mood swings. It’s gotten to the point where I dread weekends because that’s when I notice it most. He’ll come home from work on Friday and talk nonstop. Normally he’s a quieter guy and he says that’s because I talk so much (which I’ve been working on because I really do talk too much). He’ll get all lovey and then when he notices I’m annoyed and don’t respond he’ll say “fine I just won’t talk” and gets pouty. This literally happens like every weekend now. It’s like he’s a child. When he gets this way I just try to force him to go to bed.

I typed up a huge email but I’m thinking I won’t send it to him. It’s probably better if we talk in person. I’m currently laying on our couch because I just can’t go lay by him in bed. I’m sure he’ll wake up in the morning and be confused. I’m not sure how I’ll confront him tomorrow but I plan to wait until after work so he doesn’t have to deal with it at work

I guess I’m just wondering if it really is alcohol related or something else is going on? He’s talked to doctors and they’ve told him it’s sleep or depression, but never alcohol related. So that’s what he believes
This is a very stressful and heart-breaking situation for you and we’re all sorry. :flower3: That said, please re-read your post. There is simply nothing healthy about your marriage right now and you are contributing to the dysfunction. You’ve mentioned the two of you are young - young people often need mentoring and support to become whole and healthy functional adults.

Please get yourself to a counsellor (preferably one with experience in substance abuse issues) immediately. Read him or her all your posts from this thread - exactly as you have written them. It will provide excellent insight that a professional can use to start unraveling your situation. Quite frankly, one of the things you need most right now is a much clearer view of what’s actually happening between the two of you and with his behaviour. That’s the first step in changing. And change is desperately needed. Right now you have exactly zero percent chance of providing a happy and secure home for your baby - ZERO. You really have no idea how much worse this will get when your precious child enters the mix. There is no time to waste - do it today. Grace and peace to you all.
 
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me, it's putting the cart before the horse for so many here to label him as an alcoholic and/or say "leave him", blah, blah, blah.
True, it is speculation. It could be a mental issue compounded with secret alcohol consumption. It could be pills (those bottles are easier to hide).

But, he is repeatedly lying to her and manipulating her. Regardless of what is causing him to behave this way. He has obliterated any chance a reasonable person would have to trust him. With a baby on the way, not knowing if I could trust my DH would definitely be something to make me consider leaving. I don't need to tell you how important it is to trust your spouse, in general, but specifically when you're raising children together!
 
I recommend a thorough mental health screening by someone other than his general practitioner. Sometimes alcohol is used to self medicate and there is an underlying mental health issue that can be successfully treated if properly diagnosed.

I would also look for signs of drug use (prescription or other) as I would think that the OP would have smelled alcohol on his breath at one point if the drinking were this bad.

The previous diagnoses of depression along with the OP's description of his bouts of talkative lead me to see bipolar disorder

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/bipolar-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20355955
Bipolar is very treatable.
 
Some have mentioned it here already, but is he on any prescription medicine- especially if he has a depression diagnosis. The things you are describing don’t sound like the effects of 3-4 drinks (they absolutely could be though) or even the effects of heavy drinking, they sound much more like side effects from mixing alcohol and medication. These side effects should be discussed with his doctor.

I also think if it’s an issue of mixing that can be handled with changing prescriptions that you’ll need to decide whether you want to be in a relationship with someone who does drink. You can absolutely decide that you don’t want to be with someone who drinks ever, but your husband is someone who does want to drink (maybe socially, maybe he’s drinking to excess it’s just hard to tell). It never seems to work when a couple sets rules for which one partner isn’t on board. Instead of him hiding it you need to decide if you’re okay with him making decisions about his drinking (again getting what sounds like his medical condition under control) or whether you don’t want someone who drinks at all. Going back to a rule that you both won’t drink isn’t really realistic for your situation.
 
But, he is repeatedly lying to her and manipulating her. Regardless of what is causing him to behave this way. He has obliterated any chance a reasonable person would have to trust him.

Perhaps, but again that's speculation and judgement. No idea if he's manipulating or not. It would be each persons' decision on trust. Only you can decide if you'd trust a person who once had an issue and lied/hid/whatever it but then got help.

To me, this is a heart to heart conversation OP has to have with her husband. Maybe he doesn't even realize or see the effects it's having, maybe he does. Maybe he doesn't care, maybe he does. Dunno. In my opinion, a dose of reality for him and how his actions are affecting his wife is the place to start. Then the ball is in his court and OP can evaluate from there.
 
Firstly, sorry to hear you are having a very tough time at what would normally be a time of celebration for you most likely about the baby. But then things never quite go as planned. You need to seek help for yourself so that you can work through your feelings in order to make some VERY HARD choices as this is no longer about just him and you the BABY has to be the priority. You need to decide what kind of life and family you want that baby to grow up in. This might be what wakes him up but then again maybe not, especially if there are underlying mental health issues to the alcohol or other potential substance use. Even if there is mental illness he still has to be ready to accept treatment for that. I made too many excuses for someone a long time ago because they did have a known mental illness but at the end of the day that just meant that I ended up emotionally abused - I did find the strength to put my kids first and I still do every day - but it still had some effects on the older one particularly. Chances are your will be in the baby's life in some manner but you need to be braver than you have every been right now and make it clear that he needs to make some hard decisions about how that will look based on his ability to be a responsible and safe parent. Gather your parents, they sound like a good support for you - I couldn't have done as well on my journey without mine. Everyone's relationship is their own and this may work out for you, but it will be a long and tricky road - Good luck, I wish you the best.

Your husband is not getting that drunk off 3 or 4 beers. That is mearly the alcohol that he's letting you see him drink. From your descriptions it is quite clear he is drinking other alcohol in secret to get to the stage that he is slurring his words, getting sick etc. He knows he's hiding this from you.

I was thinking the same thing and I think the harder liquor likely has something to do with it. My brother used to add vodka to his beer, no smell.

Thank you everyone for your replies. I think some of what I said got turned into a little more severe than it actually is. He’s only gotten sick twice in the last 3 years. It’s not like he throws up every week or anything like that. I’m not making excuses for him but don’t want anyone thinking it’s a regular thing. Both times were after he fell asleep.

It is hard when you have loved someone for so long, seems like since high school or college for you, and accepted their issues to really start to have to see it for what it is. There will come a time when you look back with increased clarity.

I guess I’m just wondering if it really is alcohol related or something else is going on? He’s talked to doctors and they’ve told him it’s sleep or depression, but never alcohol related. So that’s what he believes

I does not really sound like he is being honest with the doctors about his drinking and if not they cannot diagnose properly with only part of the story.

does he hold down a job, if he dont work, cut him loose

Just holding down a job is no reason to keep him around - his partner and baby deserve more than that

I think it sounds like he may have some underlying mental disorder and the alcohol is what he's used to cope with that.
His doctor is telling him it's sleep and/or depression because he's not telling them about the extent of the alcohol consumption.
He needs to see a psychologist, psychiatrist, and seek treatment for substance abuse.
If he's not willing to do that (which it sounds like he's not since he's not currently admitting an issue), then you need to get out immediately.

This - great advice.

Why is it that you and your DH agreed to no longer drink once you entered college? And why was it an issue when he mentioned he wanted to casually start drinking, before you knew there was a problem? Casual social alcohol consumption - something most of us do - is very normal and harmless if done responsibly. It's peculiar to me that new college kids would agree not to drink unless there were signs of potential issues early on.

I wondered about this also...

Whereas before you became a mother (and yes, you are a mother already!) you had time to futz around, now you don't anymore.

Yes as I said above it is all about that baby now. I have raised 3 kids (2 are twins) pretty much alone since my oldest was 3 1/2 - stability and predictability with one parent is better than a messed up two parent family.

I would also look for signs of drug use (prescription or other) as I would think that the OP would have smelled alcohol on his breath at one point if the drinking were this bad.

Good point.
 
You chose poorly. Reminds me of the scene from Indiana Jones.

I don’t drink, so I understand your frustration. If I wanted a 100% guarantee that my spouse never drank, I’d become a Mormon. None of my Mormon friends drink. And they’re highly supportive of that life style. It’s how they roll.

I’ve never seen anyone give up alcohol.

Really, you guys need to talk about it.
 













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