"I told him 'isn't that why people drink? To take a step back and either 1) re-assess their issue(s) or 2) temporarily forget their issues? He has never been a drinker really, so that's why I feel like maybe he just doesn't "really" understand."
This really jumped out at me. Normal drinkers don't drink to check out or to assess their issues.
And you are right, as a normal drinker he probably doesn't understand, in the same way, as an alcoholic, I don't understand how normal drinkers can leave it easy as 1, 2, 3.
I wanted to be a normal drinker so much....realizing that was impossible for me and surrendering to sobriety was the most freeing decision I have ever made.
I hope you can find your way back before I did, 22 years later.