What can i do?
As of May 2010 my wife and I have been married for 19 years. She has 3 children, two boys, 39 & 34 and one daughter 27. I am 8 yrs younger than my wife making her oldest only 10 years younger than me. 3 years ago my wife's 37 year old son came to live with us for 6 months while he saved and got back on his feet after his cross country move did not work out. He has a BA Degree in Graphic Design, has never been married and has no children but come to find out has a drinking problem. When he first moved in he lived in our den, after all it was for only 6 months. I told him the only thing I expected was for him to get on his feet. He did get a job waiting tables 24 hours a week and because his car had been reprocessed he would have to barrow my wife's car. Both my wife and I work 40-50 hours a week which meant I would drop my wife off at her work on my way to work and pick her up on my way home. After 4 months the car pooling was not working out to well so my wife decided to co-sign a loan so he could buy a car. By this time my common sense told me the 6 month plan of him saving and getting back on his feet was not going to happen. I pointed out to my wife and step-son that getting on his feet by saving with the current job only working 24 hours a week and drinking the rest was impossible. I was told not to question the situation nevertheless after 13 months he moved out and in with his younger brother. In Jan 2009 (6 months later) because of his drinking and not working his brother kicked him out so he moved back in with us but this time into a bed room rather than our den. It has now been 18 months, although his unemployment pays for his car, insurance, and Direct TV he has no job, pays no rent, and now uses a walker due to the effect of alcohol.
This all has no affect on my wife however I am going nuts and our marrage is going bad fast. What can i do?
I am concerned to hear he has
I am concerned to hear he has to use a walker at that age because of alcohol??? he has a very bad problem and it must be hurting both him and your wife deeply even if they are denying it. Could you be the good influence and get him into rehab? If he is unemployed it might be paid for by the state. I have some unfortunate personal experience with raging alcoholism and he may well kill himself with it if he doesn't get some help. the trouble is he MUST want to get help for rehab to work very well, but at least if it is inpatient it may give his body a break from the abuse he is giving it. My thoughts are with you, this sounds like a living nightmare although you have really not complained much... I just know whereof you speak.
Will your wife attend an Al
Will your wife attend an Al Anon meeting? That can be an extremely helpful resource for families of people with addictions. She might learn that her enabling behavior is doing him more harm than good. Given that this has been going on for so long I'm just sure she doesn't know HOW to get this to stop. She needs help from this group or a counselor with experience in addictions.