He finally left her
30+ years of marriage and, as it goes, progressively worsening alcoholism. My dad drank my whole life and by the time I was a teenager I knew he was an alcoholic and that I was one too.
I'm an only child and although my parents didn't get along they were always there for me. Sometimes they were the only people I had in the world. I moved out and married and things seemed bad from what I saw when visiting them or talking to them on the phone, but I didn't know how bad it had gotten. He began beating my mom while drunk, I found out a year later. He became a drug addict but said he wanted to kick it. He got sober and left her for another woman, all after saying he was going to make their marriage work.
My mom wanted to make it work. I was relieved it was finally over, but very sad that my family fell apart after all that time we stuck together. So angry at the lies and the hidden abuse. Now he wants me to meet the women he left her for, and not even a year has passed since it hit the fan. I used to be really close to my dad but sometimes I don't ever want to see him again. I get panic attacks on the verge of sleep and I'm so depressed I hardly leave my bed. I'm unemployed but still sober. That's obviously a very condensed version of my unique situation, but surely there is someone out there that can relate? Any words of wisdom? Thanks for reading.