Good morning,

My name is Elli and I found this group through a Google search. My husband has had an alcohol problem ever since he got out of the military, but he had it under control for two years (or so I thought). Four weeks ago we had to go to the ER three times in one week, and after the first visit I found an empty bottle of vodka in his nightstand and then a full one hidden in the closet. This did not stop him, however, and we had to go two more times to the hospital because he combined vodka with Ambien. His father came out to help us and together we were able to get him into an intensive outpatient treatment clinic. He is now in his second week there and has also started to go to AA again.
Through the first few weeks of this, I was exclusively focused on solving the problems that were caused by this; I called his doctors and the clinic, etc. After he started going, I had to confront my own feelings about it and I was extremely angry at him. As a result, I lashed out at him about the smallest issues. I was extremely unhappy, angry, and just generally pissed at everyone and everything. However, I have since started seeing a therapist and going to Al-Anon. Both have been extremely helpful, and I am positively surprised how much An-Anon has already helped me. Realizing that I need to recover too was a revelation, and focusing on me has allowed me to be much calmer in dealing with my husband. I know that we are at the very beginning of a never-ending road of recovery, but for the first time in a long time, I actually feel hopeful. I am still very angry about the lies and betrayals, but focusing on me for now is really helping. And I am glad that I found this group! I am willing to try everything that may help me, and from what I have read here, I think this group could be another piece in that big puzzle.