I dont know how to classify my husband's problem, but it does involve alcohol. Here's what I can tell you..

- He used to drink when he was younger to cope with his problems. He would get completely obliterated and incoherent.

- In his younger years his drinking attributed to bad decision making and in turn, legal issues. (jail)

- Since we've been a couple (5 yrs), and now a married couple, his drinking has depleted to a " not so often event" - HOWEVER- there are times when he does have his occasional favorite wine after work or on the weekend (doesn't get drunk or close to it); BUT, there are times that he decides to have a social drink while at his close friends house, or even here at home - not because anything's wrong but sometimes because he feels like he's in a celebratory mood or again, a social drink. Sometimes when he has too much, he behaves badly. For example:

1. He will become "too happy" and overdoes EVERYTHING. His behavior may seem "joyful, excited or happy, but its OBNOXIOUS!

2. He has a history of becoming violent if he had something weighing heavy on his mind prior to his drink.

3. Yes, he has put his hands on me while intoxicated. It came as a surprise because he NEVER did that before. It happened recently while 5 months pregnant. He mushed pizza in my face and slung me around the room several times because he was mad at me for "making him mad"

4. He came home recently after having one very strong drink (malt liquor) and accused our dog of biting him. However, I was sitting right there and she didn't even go near him! He tackled her to the ground and put her in a submissive headlock. He said he would kill her if she ever did that again and talked to her like a human being. She tried to get away and he tightened his hold on her and acted like he was trying to break her neck. She squealed and cried and wiggled and got away. She was so scared that she peed on the floor and hid behind our rocking chair. SHES A ROTTWEILER for crying out loud...one of the sweetest gentle giants I've ever met. She thinks shes a lap dog!!! I couldn't believe what I saw!!

5. When he got into bed he proudly announced that he would fight a person, a cat or a dog if necessary. ( A Cat..really?)

- at that moment I viewed him as the most pathetic, sorry looser in the world. Now, I'm 1 week away from delivering our 1st baby (girl) and I'm so worried that he will do this again.

He's tried to excuse himself by saying that several months may go by between incidents with none in between, and that there isn't a physical dependence on the substance, HOWEVER, when it does happen he doesn't act rationally or normally. He's either obnoxious and giddy or violent. I'm worried that he will come home after having one too many and wake the baby up and be unsafe with her. OR be violent.

I'm trying to start anew in my new marriage and family. I'm going back to school (since work is hard to find) and have so many hopes and expectations for us. I'm worried that his behavior will jeopardize my personal success in school and our success as a family. He has improved in so many ways and has matured in many ways - but this still seems to be an issue that surfaces every few months.

Can anyone help with advice as to how I can cope with this, keep myself and family safe and not have his potential future mistakes prevent me from achieving my goal of finishing my degree so I can provide for the children? I'm also trying to deal with anger and resentment. I feel like I'm loosing respect for him as well.