I have been reading this thread with interest and since I find I'm not logged in I'll add another perspective.

My husband has been a drunk for a long time, and over the last couple of years became a full-blown alcoholic - secret drinking, passing out, usual stuff. The only thing that kept me with him was the thought that I would have to be the one to sort everything out if I left, and it was too big a job for me to tackle.

Last February he was dismissed from his job for drinking at work and is now retired. That brought him up short and he realised that he was killing himself. He stopped drinking.

As he says, he was in the shit but he's climbing out. It's steep and it's slippery and it stinks and a couple of times he's slid back in, but each time he gets further from it.

He looks and sounds better than he has for years, and admits he's happier. I feel that I actually like him again, and from not practically speaking (after all, he was either slurred, or comatose, or so self-absorbed nothing registered) we communicate normally again.

Well done those of you who are joining his climb. I wish he could see what you write - actually, I might print your updates out for him.

He has been prescribed acamprosate to help overcome craving. I found this website invaluable, and would recommend it to anyone else in the position of living with a problem drinker.

Good luck to you all, and much happiness.