Thank you for your response and for sharing your experience.

I agree with you, I'm very sure it is alcoholism. I have written a few stories about it.

I did stay and try to help for about 2.5 years. He gradually got worse and worse. I tried going to therapy with him, driving him to AA meetings, talked to some people in Al-anon meetings, looked into rehab clinics, found other people with similar experiences (not friends or family) for him to talk to. I found out that you can't help someone who doesn't want to be helped.

Meanwhile my life was horrible. My wants and needs were discarded.

Then, when our daughter came along and he became violent, that was enough.

I've left him with some family members who can try and help him but violence around our child is not something I will forget or forgive.

Thank you, I hope to find peace. I'm glad you've found happiness. I have a friend who's husband is an alcoholic. He went to rehab twice and has been sober for over 18 years. I know people can do it. Well done to you for doing it.