My dad used to react to my mom all the time. Especially when she would travel far away for extended periods of time. My guess was he'd get fearful that she was so sick of his drinking she would never come back. He would sober up after she left and we'd all breathe a sigh of relief that finally he had done it, he'd quit. And then she'd come back. And he might be sober for a little while longer but then he'd go right back to drinking. It never lasted. Now, here we are 25, 30 years later and still there he sits, drinking 24/7, only stopping to pass out three times a day. And mom lives her life completely alone, with a stinkin drunk in her living room.
So, forgive me if I'm a little skeptical of BFs recent decision to get sober and be the best he can be.