Creating reasonable boundaries for myself and relationship with alcoholic husband.
I am a 27F and my husband is a 36M. I have done extensive work on my codependency through therapy (EMDR, talk therapy) and through groups (ACOA, CODA). I thought that going into this relationship things were “different” because he does not have an outward (no anger/aggression/verbal/mental/abuse) problem with alcohol, but an inward one (emotionally unavailable). I have been doing a lot of great work and know that I am no longer willing to accept being in a marriage where he is not working on himself for himself rather than just to “save the marriage”.
I am looking for suggestions on whether or not these non-negotiables are realistic to communicate or not.
- I need a partner to work on their recovery with the purpose of healing not appeasing me.
- I need my partner to attend some type of program weekly (AA, SMART Recovery, whatever support group he finds resonates with him most)
- I cannot be intimate with a partner I can’t trust
- I need my partner to get serious about taking his naltrexone and find a PCP or other provider who is competent in MAT.
- I need my partner to make couples therapy a priority every other week to start out or at least once a month (services are limited so we’re at the mercy of scheduling with this one)
- I cannot share a bed with my partner until I have seen a commitment to addressing these non-negotiables.
- I need to see a period of at least 30/60/90 days in order to share a bed with him (unsure what is appropriate)
- If we go on our scheduled trip to Scotland in June we will not be engaging in whiskey tours or pubs
- If he agrees to these terms but changes his mind or is apprehensive at any point he needs to communicate that to me
- We will do a weekly check in to talk about highlights/struggles in both of our recovery
Do any of these sound unrealistic or does anyone have suggestions on how to communicate this to him? TIA
Posted Jan 4, 2023, 6:24 PM UTC