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Post Info TOPIC: Was I wrong?


Veteran Member

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Was I wrong?


Really need some validation and opinions. AH and I had a terrible argument just a bit ago, now he has left to go to work. I need to know if what I said was wrong because he wrote me a letter before he left and said he did not think he needed to apologise. 

This is how it started; He asked me if I would check out a home buisness that he has been looing into on the net. ( my response was based on his lack of meeting attendence, his avoidence of calling his sponser, his refusal to talk to me about anything, (see a previous post),   his critical attitude and his lack of working on his issues, which by the way, I have not said anything to him about, but which also preclude relapse for him everytime) I told him I would look some things up on it, but I wanted to see him doing the things he needed to be doing and that I felt that he was neglecting his priorities.  His sponser told me to tell him to go to a meeting when I felt he needed to, and I have once or twice but it falls on deaf ears and he just says he knows he needs to do better but he is not making an effort. He is always too tired or he forgot etc. I see with my eyses a relapse about to happen but he refuses to do anything about it. He became angry by waht I said and said to just forget it and left the room. I went outside where he was and tried to talk to him, but he just got angrier. I told him that I would look into the buisness thing but I wanted to see him working on his stuff. I also said that whenever I try to talk to you  that he just makes everything about him and does not listen to me, and refuses to talk about anything. He just became angrier and said to just forget about it again, he was yelling by this point and he kicked around some boots that were on the porch. It was frightning to me considering his physical abuse in the past. I have also read that any kind of physical violence is actually a physical threat and therefore abuse.  My Alanon sponser told me that I should at least say I how I feel because that lets my feelings out, even if he does not listen. 

In the letter he wrote he said that he wanted to be able to make more money to provide for us, but in my opinion, if he does not do his personal work then it will not matter how much money he makes. I have told him many times that what I want the most is for him to listen to me and acknowlwdge what I say and that this lets me know he loves me more than any money could. This too falls on deaf ears.   I also said that he was often too tired to go to meetings now, which I guess I should not have said, but if he is too tired now, what about when he starts working more. Seems his priorities should be the meetings, not more work.

Anyway he says he does not think he needs to apologise for his behavior because he just wants what is best for us. To me that statement is just not logical.

So was I wrong?  Is he right on this?

Thanks

Cat 

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Veteran Member

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Just another note.......I know it is not responsibility to keep him sober, or to remind him of things because it is his stuff, however, as a victim of past emotional (all the time whether drinking or not) and physical abuse (when drinking) I have to watch his behavior in order to protect myself and my well-being as wel as my childs.  I have the right to my boundries concerning how he treats me. When he becomes abusive whether emotionally or physically I have the right to call him on it and I believe he is slipping when it comes to the abuse, and this always leads to relapse and worse abuse.

so when you read the above please keep this in mind

Thanks Cat

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~*Service Worker*~

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Right , wrong ?  I had to learn to stay out of my husb recovery it was none of my business , on our detachment pamphlet it reminds me that I do not have the right to choose the method of recovery for anyone but me.  I also read a one liner that I try to  remember * the more  I try to open someones eyes , the more they close thier ears.*
You have a right to say how u feel , the hard part is- not expect that it will change anything it's just important that u speak up .
Explain to husb that when he kicks things around it makes u feel unsafe . he will fill in the blanks himself - * from his past behavior* Keep it simple speak your mind and leave it alone.
Hang in there keep the focus on your needs , help him where u can research for his interest in the new business etc. stay close to your sponsor , go to meetings and regardless of what he does , Your going to be okay .

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~*Service Worker*~

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I would say that when he said forget it and walked away I would have done exactly that, put it right out of my mind. I remember when my A would talk about getting a job as a truck driver. I'm laughing to myself just thinking about that now. I can do that since we have been separated over 18 months. It scared the crap out of me then though, the idea of our financial well being hanging in the balance of his sobriety. I had little faith in him maintaining that, still do! My biggest regret now is that I signed my name on two car loans about 5 months before leaving him and now my credit is paying the price for that! I knew better, I really did, I should have trusted my gut!

I would never again get into any kind of financial arrangement with an A or addict, even in recovery. I would never hinge my livelihood on anyone else again either! I remember living in hell with an A and not having any way to leave but to go home to my mom which I refuse to do. The only way I would do that is if my kids were in danger.

I think just saying no, I don't feel comfortable with that and walking away is enough of an answer. If he doesn't like it that's his problem. If he walks away, let him walk away that may be how he gets out his anger and by you following him and insisting on continuing the conversation you are seeing the violent behavior because he can't be alone for a minute to express it? Just a thought. He probably is more angry with himself because he can't win your trust and he knows it's his own fault than he is angry with you for not believing in him. I don't have faith in A's anymore, it's all about actions and like u said his are not looking good at the moment.

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Veteran Member

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An excellent link about emotional abuse


   http://www.womansavers.com/relationship-articles.asp?a=73 


Cat

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~*Service Worker*~

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Posts: 13696
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Aloha Veranda!!

So much of what I did and didn't do in my recovering relationship with my alcoholic came from hindsight.  With hindsight I became a believer and I let it guide my responses (not reactions...DON'T REACT!! I just love that slogan from my past sponsor (DON. T)) later on.  If my eyes, ears, and intuitions told me that she wasn't into recovery and was drinking I didn't act as if it wasn't happening and I didn't use it to bargin with what I wanted.  When she wanted me to verify her wants and needs and participate while she was drinking and using I nicely refused.  "I won't do that for now I am busy with some really important stuff for myself."  or "I know that I did that in the past.  You need to do that yourself at the moment."  She had a reaction and I detached from it.

If you are doing the best you can with what you have at the moment...swap "wrong" for something more kind to yourself.  This is not about being right or wrong...it's about spiritual balance and happiness.

If I wanted to talk about recovery?  I made an appointment with her to do so. Not like you make an appointment with a doctor but a prealert..."Can we talk later like about when you come home?  There is something I am concerned about that I need your help on."  If he tries to figure it out?  "After  you get home."  Then the subject of his meetings, abuse, your concerns about things that need his responses can be brought up.  Yeah she tried to figure out what was up and yeah she didn't have to until she got home but the appointment thingy was good for us both cause I didn't have to worry and hash it out by myself while she was at work.  (It works if your work it).  Otherwise I was always "loading on her about my worries and fears and as an alcoholic she had more than her own share of those without me.  You can only know how your mind and emotions get screwed around...try empathizing with the mind and emotions of an alcoholic or addict.   Once I learned how and when to do that I stopped having unreal recovery expectations of my non-recovering alcoholic/addict.  We were soooo much better when we working our own programs.

You weren't wrong. You were doing the best you could remember at that time.  Can it be done different?  Everything can be done different.  It might be best to know the outcome  I want ahead of time and then do the stuff that reaches that outcome.

((((hugs)))) smile  

-- Edited by Jerry F at 15:40, 2008-01-28

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Veteran Member

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Thanks everyone for your replies

AH just called and asked me if I want him to come home. He is off work and taking another co-worker home, another A in relapse. He said he did not want to come home if I was going to act all pissed at him. Like he can just be abusive and this is not supposed to upset me. Thats typical A behavior thinking you can treat people badly and not have to have consequences. So this made me angry, but I did not say anything and he will be home soon. He is now blaming me for his actions and his choices which are not my issues.  I am not supposed to be upset by his violent outburst. And if I am its my fault, never his.

I am a nervous wreck now so what do I do?

Cat 

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~*Service Worker*~

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Posts: 13696
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Aloha Cat...What do you do?  go get a sponsor.  If you don't have one yet go get one soon.  Don't do this thing alone.  This disease is very Cunning, Powerful and Baffling and it can take big bites outta my butt when I am trying to do it all by myself.  Even my HP wants me to have a sponsor!!

When you are in doubt about what to do next?  Don't do anything!

Al-Anon sponsor slogan, "When in doubt? Don't".  Big butt saver for me.  (The slogan I mean is big.) smile

((((hugs))))

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