by Deb Kalmbach | alcoholism, marriage
When I got married at the tender age of eighteen, I had the most unrealistic expectations about marriage. I’d bought into our culture’s idea about love. In 1970 (which seems like eons ago), the trendy advice for couples was all you need is love…all together now!...
by Deb Kalmbach | addiction, alcoholism, difficult relationships, marriage, recovery
The last thing you want to hear when you’re struggling with an alcoholic spouse is that it takes time for changes to happen. I remember feeling frustrated when A.A. friends told me, “Don’t give up 5 minutes before the miracle!” Five minutes?? Are you...
by Deb Kalmbach | alcoholism, be yourself, courage, difficult relationships, marriage
What seems like a lifetime ago, I started attending Al-Anon because I was struggling to cope with my husband Randy’s excessive drinking. I didn’t know where to turn. Finally, I realized I needed help. At Al-Anon, I met a compassionate young woman who...
by Deb Kalmbach | addiction, alcoholism, comfort, compassion, difficult relationships, encouragement, faith, forgiveness, friendship, gratitude, hope, life, love, loving others, marriage, perseverance, personal growth, reconciliation, recovery, substance abuse, women
God still sends angels: ones with skin, hair and belly laughs. Angels like our friend, Jim. I met him at an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting where I was the speaker for Al-Anon. I remember feeling at a loss for encouraging words. My situation with Randy and his alcoholism...
by Deb Kalmbach | alcoholism, difficult relationships, letting go, marriage, recovery
In my previous article about surviving your spouse’s alcoholism, I compared the struggle with alcoholism to an intense battle. It certainly is a battle on multiple levels: spiritual, physical, emotional. At first, I didn’t have a clue how to...
by Deb Kalmbach | addiction, Al-Anon, alcohol, alcoholism, compassion, courage, difficult relationships, encouragement, hope, letting go, love, loving others, marriage, perseverance, recovery, substance abuse, surrender
Cunning…baffling… powerful… Alcoholics Anonymous uses those words to describe alcoholism. It’s true. I’ve never felt more confused and powerless than when dealing with my husband Randy’s alcoholism. It’s an intense battle—one most of us are...
