alcohol and nyquil

[BlackBetty]

Just recently my boyfriend has decided to stop drinking because he is a verbally abusive alcoholic. I told him that I would stick by him if he really wanted  to do this (because otherwise I wouldn't be able to handle it anymore and would have to leave) but ever since we got back (we've been gone a week from eachother) he has been terribly depressed and irritable not wanting any help from me even though I try and cheer him up. What bothers me the most is that he is still drinking NyQuil to help him fall asleep since he has always had trouble with sleeping and the doctor he goes to doesn't seem to know what sleep medication is and ends up giving him something that in fact causes insomnia. My biggest worry is, is that NyQul is actually only making it harder for him to fight this dreadful disease, that unfortunatly, runs in his family. I don't honestly know if I can take away his Nyquil or not, but some helpful advice would be wonderful. He already blames me for "taking away the one relaxing and enjoyable thing" in his life.

[molly1111]

If he did quit drinking he's probably resorting to the nyquil, and if he's taking enough, he's getting a high from it, if he doesn't quit with it soon, it's a hard road with substance abuse. It is probably keeping his mind away from the drinking but isn't worth it, seek help.

[kmsgoingcrazy]

I'm in the same situation with my boyfriend. He was 6 months sober, then he got sick and started taking  Nyquil, ever since then  he takes it everynight, and I've even found him on a few occasions with a bottle of wine. I know that wine and nyquil aren't his true vices, (He's a vodka drinker) but I still cant help but think that the wine and nyquil are last resorts of him clinging to alcohol. If he continues like this, I know he'll eventually graduate to stronger drinks, and I don't like the thought of going through that hell again.

Another piece of advice: If he's still blaming you for taking away the alcohol, then he's not ready to quit. When he quits drinking, it has to be his conscientious decision or else, like any other drug, he'll go back to it.

I know your pain, I've been through it, and I'm still going through it in many ways. Something that has helped me was reading Chapter 8, "to the wives" in the AA Big Book. The book was written a long time ago, so it has some old language, and some religious references, but if you keep an open mind about things, it'll help you deal with the struggle of living with someone who doesn't want to help himself, or who does, but wont admit to it.

Good Luck.