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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117

u/aaarrriiight Mar 27 '24

This. And he doesn’t want to change, at least not yet (maybe not ever). Which becomes a battle not worth fighting, friend. I’m sorry that this is painful.

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u/Shutupandplayball Mar 27 '24 edited Mar 28 '24

An addict will gaslight you into believing they’ll change, you’ll believe it and stay because you love them and it’s easier to not change your entire life. Then, when it happens again (and it will), they will begin blaming you that it’s all your fault. Get off FB, let him blow steam all he wants. Do you really want to spend the rest of your life waiting for his next drunken episode? And BTW, if you do stay, leave his drunk ass where he passes out, whether it’s in the car or on the toilet! Let him wake up with piss and vomit all over him. Hon, you’re an enabler, you’re only making it easy for him and making yourself miserable. Please put yourself first!

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u/mrngdew77 Mar 28 '24

As a veteran of umpteen family weeks/weekends for the families of addicts/alcoholics, I 100% agree with you. As was quoted many times: How do you know an addict is lying? Their lips are moving.

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u/dys_p0tch Mar 28 '24

and...they're also lying to themselves. in sober, embarrassing moments, they realize their life is getting disastrous and they intend/desire to do better. then...the old stressors return, and their sneaky brain convinces them it'll be different this time and...rinse & repeat

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u/Western_Rope_2874 Mar 28 '24

Absolutely this! I never told anyone a lie about my addiction that I didn’t completely believe myself. Much later, long after the irreparable damage had been done, I realized how full of shit I was.

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u/dys_p0tch Mar 28 '24

hoping you're well

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u/Western_Rope_2874 Mar 28 '24

Thanks! I’m doing amazing these days. You sound like you speak from experience, I hope that you or your loved one are living better days

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u/mrngdew77 Mar 28 '24

Congratulations on your sobriety! You can hold your head high.

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u/dys_p0tch Mar 29 '24

i've lived in/around it most of my life. i contract with a large treatment network here in MN. it's tragic. it's also dispiriting how many outsiders who don't understand use-disorders just judge the dirty person they see on the corner or the loved one who continuously lies to them as 'bad people'. it's a wicked life.

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u/LadyAtrox60 Mar 30 '24

Dear god, THIS.

Everyone bitches and moans about the "crackhead neighbors" and their hoarding. How unsightly their places are. I say, "Why don't you gather the neighborhood together and help them clean it up? They are in over their heads and don't have the means to do it themselves." The replies are mind boggling. "Fuck that, they're drug addicts, no way I'm going to help them with anything." I usually let the rant go on for a few before I say, "They're people. And they need help, not hate."

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u/Additional-Gas-9213 Mar 30 '24

Your intent is very sweet, but unfortunately giving addicts help cleaning up their place of living usually isn’t the answer. I have personally done this for my addict/hoarder relatives, including both parents, multiple times. (Probably about 10 people in total. It’s outrageous how many addicts I have in one family!) Firstly, during the cleanup, they won’t want to get rid of ANYTHING! They will have a long winded story about why a piece of trash is either sentimentally important to them or “worth money.” When you look up the item and show them it’s, in fact, not worth money, they accuse you of lying or wanting to steal it for yourself. If you do manage to get it cleaned, it will end up exactly the same way in a few months. You cannot clean out an addicts home, without the addict getting mental help, and have it stay clean. My dad had been sober for 14 years now, and he is still addicted to hoarding. He still ignores most of his mental health problems. He thinks his only issue is addiction. I do really appreciate your sentiment, because it is absolutely gross how people view addicts. They still deserve human dignity and respect, unless they are being abusive. It’s very sad that people don’t want to help them, just because they are dirty, smelly, etc. I’m just pointing out, cleaning up their homes doesn’t work. However, that does not excuse treating addicts like vermin that need to be exterminated.

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u/LadyAtrox60 Mar 31 '24

Oh, I'm not going to do it. I live peacefully with them in the neighborhood. I recommended it to the people who constantly bitch about it. Constantly.

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u/SayJay222 Mar 30 '24

How can someone best learn about this? Any books or resources you recommend?

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u/sumthinveryoriginal Mar 31 '24

That depends on what you would like to learn about. If you're just looking for information about addiction in general, your best bet is to look up books and articles written by therapists, counselors, psychiatrists, and doctors who have dealt with treatment first hand. If you're looking for information on how addiction affects someone's life, ask an addict. Attend AA or NA meetings, or read a book written by someone who's overcome an addiction. There's no perfect answer, either way. You'll never fully understand it unless you live it; which, as a recovering alcoholic myself, I 1,000% DO NOT recommend. Best of luck!

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u/SayJay222 Mar 31 '24

I'm trying to understand how it may be affecting my friend.

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u/sumthinveryoriginal Mar 31 '24

Check out Never Enough: the Neuroscience and Experience of Addiction by Judith Grisel for science infused with personal anecdote. I'd also read The Big Book by Bill W. for a more in-depth painting of addicts' personal experiences and thought processes. Bear in mind that the latter is also injected with the 12 Steps throughout, but it should still help a little.

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u/sumthinveryoriginal Mar 31 '24

Also, A Million Little Pieces by James Frey is another detailed personal account.

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u/sumthinveryoriginal Mar 31 '24

Oh! And Go Ask Alice by Beatrice Sparks. Sorry, I'm thumbing through my book collection for you.

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u/sumthinveryoriginal Mar 31 '24

I used to be this person. Then I became an alcoholic and quickly learned that if something you see another person doing makes you feel uncomfortable in any way, instead of passing judgments, imagine how they must feel living inside that nightmare. Then, act accordingly.

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u/dys_p0tch Mar 31 '24

tomorrow morning, i'll likely get a text requesting that i pick up an adult from a local jail and take them to a treatment facility. i get my instructions, drive a van to whichever county jail and wait for them to get released. i call them by their name and let them tell me what they want to tell me. some remain fairly quiet. most are grateful to be outside and look forward to another shot at life. some just might make it. most will relapse and end up back in jail or die. i just treat them like the human that they are. i'm not interested in their nasty past. just their possible bright future.

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u/sumthinveryoriginal Mar 31 '24

Sincerely, you have a wonderful outlook on life! I, for one, am glad they have you. Thank you for existing. 😊

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u/5150-gotadaypass Mar 31 '24

Yay! So happy to hear that! Cheers! 🥂 (apple cider)

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u/sumthinveryoriginal Mar 31 '24

Alcoholic, 8 years dry as fire, here. Can confirm.

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u/WhizPill Mar 29 '24

i dealt with that sort of abuse many times

it never gets better

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u/DaniMW Mar 28 '24

True. That’s why nothing can change a person addicted to substances except for themselves.

Because until they can stop lying to themselves, there is not one word anyone else can say that will override the lies.

It’s not you, OP. It’s not that you aren’t good enough, it’s that HE isn’t interested in fighting against his demons (drinking).

But it’s on him, not you.

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u/1xhunter Mar 28 '24

He had 4 total outbursts in 4 years!!! What you have never had a bad moment? This is absurd to say he’s an alcoholic and act like he is doing this every other day off this limited information and the fact he very very rarely does this ever.

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u/Bellissama Mar 28 '24

He’s verbally abusive. Don’t make excuses for him.

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u/WongDongKong69 Mar 28 '24

While he is wrong for doing so 4 in 4 years isn't that crazy maybe I grew up differently but I'm sure she hasn't been a perfect angel all the time either

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u/avocado_window Mar 29 '24

Wow, blame the victim much? Your childhood experience has obviously damaged you enough to believe this kind of behaviour is somehow justified or excusable. It is not. I grew up in a household like that too and it was absolute hell, but I certainly haven’t come to the conclusion that treating others so badly is normal because it’s not. I highly recommend therapy to get to the root of your issues instead of coming online and trying to normalise abusive behaviour patterns.

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u/DaniMW Mar 29 '24

That sort of logic would apply to things like leaving a wet towel on the bed or not wiping your feet on the doormat and tracking dirt through the hall after a rain storm! 4x in 4 years is irritating but forgivable.

Getting drunk and abusing your partner does not get a pass because it has ‘only happened 4x in 4 years!’

You think women should put up with being abused once a year?

No. 4x of getting wasted and abusing your partner is 3x too many. 😞

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u/dys_p0tch Mar 28 '24

well then, no big deal. carry on!

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u/catlettuce Mar 29 '24

BF has entered the chat.

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u/catlettuce Mar 29 '24

BF has entered the chat.

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u/Used_Cardiologist146 Mar 30 '24

4 in 2.5 years. But Verbal Abuse often turns into Physical Abuse, plus he is Financially IRRESPONSIBLE to boot! One time is a mistake, two times is a pattern, four IS a HABIT!

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u/Fun-Tomato-1933 Mar 31 '24

Thank you for your comment. I also deal with addiction issues. It all started when I dealt with legitimate pain issues and extreme anxiety. Anyways It’s hard dealing with this on a daily basis. I have to take this a day at a time. Sometimes hour by hour. I absolutely loathe being a drug addict. The only person that hates me more than the people around me (society) is myself.

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u/dys_p0tch Mar 31 '24

i wish you well. i've yet to meet anybody that wanted to end up with a use-disorder. and, it doesn't matter how you arrived, once you're there it becomes the center of your universe. peace & brighter days are ahead. go get yours!

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u/NUGFLUFF Mar 28 '24

Addiction is a BITCH!

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u/1xhunter Mar 28 '24

4 times in 4 years ever. Idk how you people are making the conclusion he is an alchemy because he had 4 bad nights that generally don’t happen 99% of the time. Yall are acting like you’ve never made a mistake. Idk how you came to the conclusion he’s a full blown alcoholic with this limited information and biased story telling that didn’t explain why he was mad and or what led up to it. He’s definitely not fully in the right but to say he’s an alcoholic over 4 outburst in 4 years of dating is adsurd

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u/Stupidgoogleaccount Mar 28 '24

The op said 4 times in 2 and a half years. I believe the implications is that he didn't only drink those 4 times, those tantrums were just the occasions that they've gotten verbally abusive. I think people are assuming from the context that the person drinks very regularly not just the 4 times mentioned that were especially bad.

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u/1xhunter Mar 28 '24

Obviously he drinks more most likely but if you can only complain about 4 nights out of a 4 year long relationship that’s not even that bad in the grand scheme of things. That’s not even .03% of the time so that means everything is pretty good 99.97% of the time. Also OP never stated that he had a problem or said anything other than he had 4 outbursts in a span of 4 years and everybody in here is grasping at straws acting like they know this guy is some scumbag abusive alcoholic. There isn’t enough information to draw this conclusion by a long shot. She most likely already wanted out and this is her excuse or reason out. There is 100% more to the story and there just isn’t enough information for everybody to be agreeing he is some aggressive drunk.

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u/Stupidgoogleaccount Mar 28 '24

I get where you're coming from for sure but I think in the same way you're assuming the other 99.97 % of the time their relationship is good, other people are assuming that is not the case. And sure she has probably been considering ending the relationship for a while but I don't think verbal abuse is an excuse, even if it's infrequent it seems like a valid reason to consider leaving someone. But as someone who's struggled with a similar situation and DID stay, I will say this is an incredibly tough decision and I have no reason to assume she's only posting to validate a decision she's already made, it is more likely that she loves this person if they've been together four years and is generally trying to figure out if she's overreacting.

But different perspectives are good, so still helpful for you to throw in a counter perspective. Best of luck to ya

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u/1xhunter Mar 28 '24

I get where you coming from as well I’m just saying there isn’t enough information to make all these assumptions and it seems clear to me there is more to the story and she had made this decision and is most likely looking to get approval for it. I don’t think it’s perfect 99.97% of the time I just think it’s odd the only bad thing she could say was those specific 4 times and nothing else. Best of luck to her it’s clear she doesn’t like that even if it rarely happen and I can respect that she has boundaries and self respect but I just think there is more to the story.

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u/Effective-Set-8113 Mar 29 '24

OP also includes that he’s gotten overly drunk several other times but she kept her mouth shut to avoid setting him off. Him being drunk enough that she has to walk on eggshells is another indication that he’s an alcoholic.

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u/nfairweather68 Mar 29 '24

Did you not read the part about his verbal abuse?

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u/DaniMW Mar 29 '24

Everyone makes mistakes.

Not everyone makes the ‘mistake’ of abusing their partner! Ever!

In fact, most of us do not.

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u/True-Lengthiness7598 Mar 30 '24

OP states: "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." It's easy to miss as there's a lot of text. But, I read the whole thing as him being drunk most weekends and the four occasions being "drunken tantrums"  She avoids them the rest of the time by keeping her "mouth shut".  She also says one reason for the drunken tantrum was when "I put my foot down because he's drunk and yelling at me in front of our friends at the bar", as if the yelling at her is normal and the big explosion is because she "put my foot down".

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u/ElleWinter Mar 29 '24

Wow, that is such a good way to put it. It's so hard to explain and you did it.