@RDMercer there is a documentary on YouTube you should watch called “Wasted”. This does a good job explaining alcoholism/addiction and the brain. Actually it’s a good documentary for you to watch with your children so you all understand this dysfunction and why it is so harmful not only to the alcoholic/person abusing subtances but their family and friends.

The person that develops this problem has low dopamine receptors in their brain and the person tends to be impulsive. This disorder can lead to serious health problems and when a person goes without they can’t sleep and get very moody and can experience sudden seizures.

It destroys relationships and often the person struggles to actually work and be productive. That is why your wife tends to only work twenty hours a week.

The mood swings are awful as you have described being on the receiving end of. And it is dangerous for your children to be in a car she is driving. It may seem like your wife is careful but no one should drive under the influence.

People with addiction problems practice denial, denial, denial. And as you have experienced they can get down right mean and demanding.

Often a person won’t stop until they lose everything. It’s traumatizing to be on the receiving end of a person that engages in substance abuse.