Expert: Jurriaan Plesman, Nutritional Psychotherapist - 8/30/2009

Question
I was with my ex for a total of 5 years.  He is an alcoholic when he drinks he is abusive verbally, emotionally, as well as physically here and there.  We did end up having a daughter together whom is now 10 months old.  He had us removed from the house on New Years of this year due to being out of control with the drinking.  Police took our daughter and I to a womens shelter due to his behavior.  I decided not to go back after he threw a chair that landed close to our infants head knowing he throws things when drunk I decided not to return and left everything.  Now, we are going through custody and only have gotten to the initial status conferences he is dragging it our to his contents of course.  He has let me know that he is very angry with me for not coming back to supposedly act like an adult to work it out.  I tried for 5 years and it didnt work.  But how do I deal with his anger during a custody battle???  Is there anything I can do even though I have tried virtually everything?  We both live in different states now so he cannot just show up at the door to see her.  How can I respnd to him withought him turning it around on me in court?  Right now he is taking the victim role.  Which is quite common with him.  Thank you for your time I would love to figure out how to get off his roller coaster ride so we can both go on with life!!

Answer
Dear Tania,

You are very brave  and stick to your guns. Alcoholics can be very dangerous to a marriage and a family. Please seek some counselling. There is little else I can say. I hope you get a good lawyer.

_______________________________________________
Jurriaan Plesman, Nutritional Psychotherapist
Hon. Editor of
The Hypoglycemic Health Association of Australia.
www.hypoglycemia.asn.au
Author of "Getting off the Hook"
Freely available at Google Book Search
Skype: jurplesman