Expert: james52144@earthlink.net - 12/24/2010

Question
I have been abused for the last 7 years.  It did not happen every day but I was attacked emotionally with the factitious affairs and name calling.  About 2 years ago it became violent and I have since left my husband (as of 6 days ago) and I have moved into my parent's basement with my two young boys (5 and 7).  My husband has started treatment with our counties mental health and substance abuse and began working with a private physician.  I am also attending meetings at mental health and group discussions at the local the women's shelter.  My husband and I have been best friends for 7 years but we have issues with money and other "life" issues that we just flat out can't cope with or communicate about.  My husband has been an alcoholic since we first met and I am a new alcoholic just starting in the last three months.  My husband has since put his beer down and I am slowly saying good bye to the hard stuff.  My family thinks that I should hate him and divorce him, but we do love each other and we both love our boys.  I am the PTO Vice president and my husband is the hardest working man that I know.  Do you think that there is ANY hope for us or do you have any success stories that I may read.

Thank you
Leah

Answer
Dear Leah

There is always hope. Drinking will pretty much kill hope, so if either one of you drinks, you can forget healing your issues. There are lots of success stories when you take alcohol out of the equation. You both need to forgive each other, forget the past and move on. Good luck.