The Story of How Many Thousands of Men and Women Have Recovered from Alcoholism
Pages
Chapter 1 –  Bill’s Story Chapter 2 – There Is A Solution Chapter 3 – More About Alcoholism Chapter 4 – We Agnostics Chapter 5 – How It Works Chapter 6 – Into Action Chapter 7 – Working With Others Chapter 8 – To Wives Chapter 9 – The Family Afterward Chapter 10 – To Employers Chapter 11 –A Vision For You
Search
Close this search box.

Chapter 6 - INTO ACTION

wouldn’t care to have advertised. We doubt if, in this respect, alcoholics are fundamentally much worse than other people. But drinking does complicate sex relations in the home. After a few years with an alcoholic, a wife gets worn out, resentful and uncommunicative. How could she be anything else? The husband begins to feel lonely, sorry for himself. He commences to look around in the night clubs, or their equivalent, for something besides liquor. Perhaps he is having a secret and exciting affair with “the girl who understands.” In fairness we must say that she may understand, but what are we going to do about a thing like that? A man so involved often feels very remorseful at times, especially if he is married to a loyal and courageous girl who has literally gone through hell for him.

Whatever the situation, we usually have to do something about it. If we are sure our wife does not know, should we tell her? Not always, we think. If she knows in a general way that we have been wild, should we tell her in detail? Undoubtedly we should admit our fault. She may insist on knowing all the particulars. She will want to know who the woman is and where she is. We feel we ought to say to her that we have no right to involve another person. We are sorry for what we have done and, God willing, it shall not be repeated. More than that we cannot do; we have no right to go further. Though there may be justifiable exceptions, and though we wish to lay down no rule of any sort, we have often found this the best course to take.

Our design for living is not a one-way street. It is as good for the wife as for the husband. If we can

 

Page 81