I guess what put things into perspective for me was being the sober one in a relationship with a severe alcoholic in addiction addiction.
I can only compare it to being held hostage.
He drank vodka neat from the bottle in the supermarket coffee shop at 10am in the morning.
He hid it under a coat and took swigs.
He lied constantly about drinking.
He would go missing for days.
There was no point having a conversation because he would never remember.
No point making plans because if he was drunk he wouldn't remember.
He lost his job twice.
He would ask to come detox at mine as I had a powerful shower and a nicer flat and iced water in my fridge.
He was rude to my neighbours.
He left his daughter with me so he could go drink, even though he had dragged his ex wife through the courts for custody of her every other weekend.
It was nothing short of horrific but it was also so incredibly dull and boring.