The Alcoholic MazeThe Alcoholic Maze - 01: After an argument with your spouse, you wonder if your marriage is in trouble. Sometimes your spouse seems to drink a too much but maybe that is normal. You've never been much of a drinker but others in your family have been. Sometimes the kids ask why their parent spends so much time drinking. Your Alcoholic's Behavior: Your spouse has taken to having several drinks some weekday evenings. They say that this is simply to relax after a stressful day at work. However, it is usually more than one or two drinks. On days when they need it, they can get angry if the first drink is delayed for some reason. Sometimes they will go along with doing something other than sitting around drinking in the evening, but most often having several drinks is the routine. Your Behavior: You have been denying to yourself and others that there is a problem. You don't think it is that bad and have been sure that it will solve itself. You have been telling lies about your spouse's drinking. You find you have been becoming more judgmental, not only with your alcoholic but also with yourself and with your children.
Response 1: Some co-alcoholics will continue to avoid recognizing or admitting that there is a problem. If pressed they will outright deny that there is a problem. They will enable the alcoholic’s behavior by taking on responsibilities that the alcoholic should look after for themselves. Response 2: Some co-alcoholics will begin to admit that there may be a problem but not admit the degree to which it affects them. They often blame themselves for the alcoholic’s drinking, especially when the alcoholic gets angry. They try to fix problems caused by their alcoholic’s drinking. Sometimes they get angry with their alcoholic. They continue to enable their alcoholic’s behavior.
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