There are so many comments I could make, FiftyPence, but let me say that you articulate yourself very well, and express what you - and all of us - have experienced. Beautifully written, and although 18 months is a long time to be in pain, kudos to you for recognizing when you did. In hindsight, doesn't it always seem like it took too long?
Originally Posted by
FiftyPence 
There is a common thread in all our lives that seems to have brought us to this place. The stories here are all unique yet I feel them all to be somehow similar to my own.
This quote expresses how I feel when I walk into an al-anon meeting I have never before attended. Strangers that are somehow friends, friends because of an unspoken understanding.
Peace,