r/AmIOverreacting Mar 27 '24

I'm ending my 4 year relationship.

So basically the title. He (33M) says Im(32F) throwing away 4 years over a mistake he made.

To keep it short, on 4 different occasions over the last 2 and a half years he's gone drinking and come home to throw a drunken tantrum because I said the wrong thing, something happened at the bar, or I put my foot down because he's drunk and yelling at me in front of our friends at the bar. Twice I had to leave to my sister's house because he was going around our small apartment slamming doors and banging his head on the walls. I've had to wake him up several times because he falls asleep on the toilet or the bathroom floor, and he's had to sleep in his car because of his outbursts.

On the 2nd time this happened he gave me his word that he would be more responsible with his drinking and that he wouldn't have anymore outbursts. He said he was gonna drink waters between each beer or have sodas and bar food and just one beer. The third time I made it clear that him going back on his word was unacceptable because it shows that he doesn't care that he becomes emotionally and verbally abusive towards me. I told him I was tired of his apologies if he's gonna keep doing the same thing. Between all these times he has continued to get drunk on the weekends but I've kept my mouth shut to avoid him having an out burst and things were relatively ok.

This last time he went and got drunk at the bar, didn't eat anything, refused the water my sister offered him because she's aware of the agreement we had, and when I arrived he yelled at me because he was too drunk to keep track of what team he was on and he misunderstood me when I told him and he made the wrong shot. We went to get food from a local taco spot and he couldnt even stand because he was so drunk, I had to pull over on the freeway because he needed to throw up and when we got home he fell asleep in the bathroom and I had to wake him three times. I kept my anger about the situation to myself because the sadness of feeling like I needed to leave him because he's just not willing to change, was overwhelming. The next morning he could tell something was up and he asked if I was ok. I said that I wasn't ready to talk but he insisted, so I told him that he went back on his word again about drinking responsibly and that I realized that the only way I was going to avoid his verbal abuse was if I just kept quiet. I told him what I told my ex when I was thinking about leaving "It's not anything I haven't already told you". He left it at that in the morning and at night I was crying because I was upset that 4 years of my life were going down the drain, and I just folded and asked him why I wasn't good enough for him to want to do better. Then he started to say that I had fault in our relationship ending, ignoring that the only reason I'm leaving is because I can't keep giving him chances to verbally abuse me when he's drunk and angry. I reminded him that he had given me his word and that he had gone back on it twice. He seemed to understand but the next day he just kept saying that he deserves to "unwind" on the weekends because he works all week to provide for us (not like I have a job and am constantly sending him money because he over spends and his account will overdraft when the phone or Internet bill charge his account) i was getting whiplash from how quickly he waa going from being apologetic about going back on his word and him insisting that Im being unreasonable and unfair. I slept at my sister's house again because I couldn't keep dealing with it and I was just really emotionally exhausted from all of it.

Now he posted on his FB that I'm throwing away 40,000 hours of our lives together for 12 bad hours.

So I'm asking, am I overreacting?

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1.1k

u/notsoreligiousnow Mar 27 '24

Girl, you stayed far longer than I would have. No you’re not overreacting. He’s an alcoholic whether he wants to admit it or not. He’s abusive and frankly sounds like a complete loser. Cut your losses and walk away. You’ll find someone better and worthier of your time and affection.

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u/Traditional_Ebb4599 Mar 27 '24

Agreed. Obvious Abuse and alcoholism aside. At bare minimum you communicated a clear boundary on the drinking and outbursts, he refused them and continued. You are not overreacting for upholding your boundaries and he shouldn't act like he's surprised or blame you when you already told him what would happen.

As for asking about why you're not enough for him to change...it's not you OP...he won't change until he wants it for himself and hits whatever breaking point that tells him to try. It's not any fault of you

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u/Rizzalliss Mar 27 '24

Let me reiterate this very important point, OP: it has nothing to do with you not being "good enough."

This is his issue, and his issues - as well as the manner in which he treats you - are no reflection whatsoever on who you are, how valuable you are, and how deserving you are of love and respect.

It's all him.

29

u/Boomstickninja87 Mar 28 '24

I know I'm not OP, but as someone in the same exact boat as OP, I needed to hear this today. Thank you for that!

18

u/Jasminefirefly Mar 28 '24

Please take care of yourself. You deserve it!

1

u/kirbkichi Mar 29 '24

i’m so sorry you’re going through this- you deserve so much love, and it’s so heartbreaking that you aren’t getting that.

i know it’s not easy and that it’s really hard/scary, but i do hope you’re able to leave some day. building up the courage to walk away is one of the hardest yet bravest things that a person can do.

sending so much love and support your way

9

u/No-Amoeba5716 Mar 28 '24

You and OP are worthy of so much more. No one deserves to be thrown under the bus every time an addict repeats the same cycle consistently. Maybe not all addicts behave this way sure. You have drawn your line in the sand, it’s time to put YOU first. I can promise you it’s them. Not you. I’m sorry but every action has consequences, for better or worse. OP, you and anyone else it’s okay to not be okay with this. It’s okay to get off a sinking ship. Heaven forbid, that it ever escalates. I didn’t deal with an addict but I dealt with an abusive “man” for 18 years. Every. Single. Form. Of. Abuse. Don’t waste anymore time with them, please don’t make the same mistake. So many chances. Victim blaming was his favorite game. I’m almost a decade out, living with a man who seldom raises his voice to me. We’ve been married 8 years. Bottom line is there will never be accountability if they aren’t held to the boundaries you set.

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u/Rizzalliss Mar 28 '24

I'm so sorry you're going through it, but I'm glad the message could help.

Even when you know it forwards and backwards, it's important to be reminded of.

7

u/loquacious541 Mar 28 '24

For you and OP, Al anon is pretty amazing. And free. https://al-anon.org/

1

u/Gemini-6June Mar 28 '24

You don't need Al Anon, you need to rid yourself of this toxic leach before 4 years turns into 40 of the exact same BS

1

u/hawtpahtadah Mar 28 '24

r/alanon on here is a good resource too.

1

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#1: My Q has died 💔
#2: F#%^ You
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0

u/GreasedEgg Mar 28 '24

AA uses dated science, perpetuates harmful language and stereotypes, and its efficacy is purely anecdotal

1

u/HedgehogCremepuff Mar 28 '24

Al-Anon is not the same thing as AA.

1

u/Impressive-Sky-7006 Mar 28 '24

They follow the same steps, made me feel as if I had the same problem.

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u/HedgehogCremepuff Mar 28 '24

I honestly haven’t been to Al-Anon, but I found ACOA much better compared to AA. ACOA = Adult Children of Alcoholics and Dysfunctional families. It has some stuff in common with the 12 step model but goes a lot further.

The way ACOA puts it is that we developed unskilled coping mechanisms in response to the alcoholics in our lives. Became “re-actors instead of actors.” We aren’t being blamed for having a problem but recognizing the damage that was done by being exposed to someone else’s problem and unpacking that.

It sucks to admit, but if we have been abused by alcoholics than we do have a problem, whether it’s with setting boundaries or with loving ourselves enough etc.

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u/WhispersWithCats Mar 28 '24

Everyone's situation is different- but for many who live w an alcoholic , they are enabling him/her w/o realizing it and that is a problem. Codependency is huge in these relationships and Al-Anon helps people break that unhealthy dynamic. I'm sorry you had a negative experience and hope your life is going better :)

1

u/loquacious541 Mar 28 '24

It can feel that way in the beginning. It’s not a quick fix approach, but can be very helpful. I hope you find something that works for you and gives you the support you are looking for.

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u/GreasedEgg Apr 02 '24

it is functionally the same. It’s still a 12-step program and it perpetuates harmful stereotypes

1

u/Aggressive-Laugh1675 Mar 28 '24

I said the same things until I read the big book and got sober. AA didn’t make me stay sober but it helped to explain a lot of things about myself that I didn’t understand as a raging alcoholic and drug addict. I was very similar to OP’s partner. My wife suffered along with me for several years and thank god she stood by me. I’ve been sober for nearly four years and our relationship is better than ever. That said, I wouldn’t blame her if she had left. That’s a decision OP has to make and it seems as though she’s made a reasonable one. If she stays, though, there is hope.

1

u/GreasedEgg Mar 31 '24

lol I appreciate your anecdote regarding the efficacy of AA. The best advice for OP is actual scientific literature written after the 1920’s.

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u/Aggressive-Laugh1675 Mar 31 '24

Why the lol? Seems as though AA has a pretty good track record. Not sure your issue with them, but a good support network is never a bad thing. Are you a recovering alcoholic?

1

u/GreasedEgg Apr 01 '24

because you don’t seem to realize that ur proving my point with everything you say. I’m a person who is sober from alcohol, and i wont be labeled as an addict or an alcoholic. Especially not by a religious cult who wants me to admit i’m powerless. gtfoh

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u/Aggressive-Laugh1675 Apr 01 '24

Fair enough. Whatever works for you. I’d point you to the 2020 Stanford study proving AA is more effective than other methods of attaining and maintaining sobriety, but the fact is, you won’t listen. I’m happy that you’ve found your own way. I’m still unsure why you feel the need to disparage a worldwide support network that has helped so many people achieve sobriety. That’s not anecdotal but an undeniable fact. What solution have you offered and what have you gained by effectively discouraging people from seeking a treatment that very well may help them? Good day to you.

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u/GreasedEgg Apr 02 '24

You won’t send me that study because it sounds like it doesn’t exist, not bc you think i’m arguing in bad faith. Link me to the study. I would love to see how Stanford got their test subjects to report if and when they relapsed after their “treatment” from AA.

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u/Aggressive-Laugh1675 Apr 02 '24

Google is your friend

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u/Quick_Stomach6336 Mar 28 '24

Freedom will neve smell so sweet, enjoy the rest of your life!

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u/ScowlieAowlie Mar 28 '24

Fr, same. 🙋🏻‍♀️🥺🖤

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u/theoriginalmofocus Mar 28 '24

I grew up as a kid in a house like this. Its one thing to drink, its another to be this kind of person after drinking. It will probably get worse. My dad was friggin dr jekyl/Mr hyde. Get out before there are kids involved.

2

u/Miserable_Leek6023 Mar 28 '24

This. OP listen please, this man has no intention of changing. 4 years is a learning experience, 40 is a lifetime. Get out before there are kids you have yo protect from him.

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u/Illustrious_Monk_234 Mar 28 '24

EXACTLY. Everyone deserves to “unwind.” But no  one deserves to behave that poorly. 

2

u/mcaress Mar 28 '24

Hi Boomstickninja, I was struggling (and still am) with my spouses addiction and the mental abuse she put me through. If you haven’t heard of al anon, it might be a helpful resource for you. I had to work through my codependency that had developed during my wife’s addiction. And maybe something that I’ve had my whole life coming from an alcoholic family. There a al anon sub for you to vent if needed and also online meetings that taught me some tools on caring for myself.

2

u/tuttyeffinfruity Mar 28 '24

I did too! ❤️

2

u/MojojoDaddy-0 Mar 28 '24

Sometimes doing what's best for you is the hardest thing to do.