In my case I didn't know my dad was an alcoholic until I was in my 30s. I did know that things weren't right at home and I believed it was my fault. I clearly remember many nights laying in bed listening to the fights and wishing I was dead. No child deserves to live like that.
I hadn't faced my father's alcoholism until this last incident with my AW when I decided to move out and finally started my path on recovery. My experiences with my father are finally coming to the surface and I now recognize the parallels in behavior that I see in my wife.
Your friend,