Alcoholics Anonymous and External Support

My father has been a “sober alcoholic” for 35 years.

My mother moved to Canada with him when she was 7 months pregnant with me. They had no social network and only a job offer for my dad.

He was physically and verbally abusive when he drank. Football and bar fights with his friends in Llanelli were fun. A stereotypical alcoholic.

It took my mother 5 years to finally be able to leave him. It was a struggle being away from her parents and friends with no support system available for years. When she left with my brother and I, our dad finally stopped drinking alcohol.

My personal story below…