I live my life waiting for the other shoe to drop. Part of this comes from being the parent of an adolescent who is addicted. Part of this comes from being the adult child of an alcoholic. Part of this comes from being married to an alcoholic. So I am always waiting for that next bit of bad news. In my house I walk on eggshells. As time has gone on I seem to be doing that more. It isn't healthy, but it seems to be the way it is.
So, that all said, on Thursday I came home from work to the nice bit of news that Dave had an appointment scheduled at Lifeline for an assessment for treatment. A couple of months ago he came to the conclusion that he was an alcoholic and quit drinking. Thought it was really easy after the initial period of withdrawal. And then he crashed a bit. Not that I knew it. Sometimes while I'm walking on eggshells and waiting on the other shoe, I am just oblivious. But I did notice that the eggshells were getting thinner again. So he tells me about his appointment. Seems it came about because his boss scheduled it. It was an ultimatum....do this or be unemployed. Okay then.
Then we were quiet. Didn't talk about it. Everyone got to process. Today was the appointment. Dave did the assessment and was given the diagnosis of alcoholic and the recommendation is intense outpatient treatment. That means four days a week for 2.25 hours each day and two AA meeting a week for eight weeks. Then one day a week and the AA meetings for 16 weeks. So that is the plan. For the next eight weeks he is at home and working on this.
So that means the other shoe dropped, but again we picked it up and keep moving forward. Or at least I hope we are moving in a forward direction.
i think instead of the other shoe dropping, a curtain was lifted so you both could really see what's happening.
ReplyDeletei don't have to tell you it's a huge step to admit the problem exists. the fact that he is a smart man and knows that a job is not a thing you want to lose these days and is willing to go to treatment is wonderful.
i wish you luck when going through all this with him...
Thanks Shannon. The curtain rises, the shoe gets picked back up....We'll be all right, but it is a hard road we are on. So we keep moving and I keep blogging.
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