FindingAmy—
I really enjoyed your post!!! I kept it. I have a tendency to look at the dark side of things, and it was nice to have you turn on the light.
To all the others here, I feel your pain. I’ve been there,
The anger helps us get away and STAY away from them. The realization we cannot save them, or change them no matter what we sacrifice. They can only save themselves, and we can only save ourselves .
When my ex alcoholic boyfriend was in the hospital for rehab, there was a circle of us partners talking about possible relapse. The counselor/leader was asking each of us individually in the circle, how will you react when they relapse?
And one by one, the partners would say something like “oh I will be there for him/her“ and when they got to me, all I said was “I’m out of there I’m done!“
And of course it isn’t as simple As this, but the bottom line is, that he did, and i left .
Haven’t regretted one day of my Freedom.
That was 20 years ago.