Expert: james52144@earthlink.net - 2/11/2010

Question
I'm newly married I husband is an recovering alcholic for 3weeks due to health reasons. He's 39. He is under a drs supervision and taking meds to control cravings and antidepressent. He is also on stomach meds. He sleeps so much and is so angery and depressed. I try and talk to him and he closes me out.  His children live here and I try my best to keep life normal. I understand this is a family disease but he will have nothing to do with Aa or counceling due to negitive past experiences. I need to know how cani support him without driving him back to drinking and also keep my sanity. I'm feeling so lost and helpless. I want to help him so much but don't know how      I also realize that his quit has to be his own and I truely believe it is. Could really use some advice soon.
Thank you , desperate newlywed

Answer
Dear Sally

You might want to try Alanon which is a national support group for people in your position. You are not responsible for anyone else, only yourself. The only way to get through this is to allow him to do whatever he is going to do, you are not the cause for his disease or his recovery. That is totally up to him. Good luck.