I should add - I didn't leave my wife. But I finally knew that I could. Armed with that decision, I resolved first to do everything - everything - within my power to try to help her.

And things got incredibly worse before it got better. But it did finally get better. Our marriage is stronger now than it has been in years and we've recommitted ourselves to our vows.

It's like the old parenting advice - never make a threat unless you intend to follow through with it. But luckily I didn't have to.