"Parent support link changed my life"

My partner is an alcoholic, he has been drinking for many years and it just became a part of life and the routine we were living in. It became expected that he would get drunk and become verbally abusive some times even physically abusive. But I would say that's just the way things are. He would drink all his wages and I would be left paying for everything and constantly living in my overdraft and getting more and more in debt. One evening things just escalated and we had had another huge argument over his drinking and money, he then fell over and passed out, I was so frustrated and upset I ran out of my home in tears and drove in my car till I pulled over and calmed down. I remember having been given the number on a flyer for Parent support link from a friend who had used the service and I found it in the boat of my car, they have a 24/7 telephone number which I rang not expecting someone to answer at it had gone past midnight but they did!

It was the best thing I ever did phoning them that night, from that moment onwards I was reassured, I felt supported, I was not alone any more. I engaged with Parent support link who gave me as many face to face sessions that I needed and all the support any one could ask for.

After some time I finally found myself again, I had forgotten who I was and who I use to be.... I was a fun person but that had all been taken over by my partners drinking.

I started to have a life and see people again, while he was sat at home drinking by himself.

After some time it became clear that I did not need to be with him I did not need him, it was him that needed and depended on me. So I found the strength (again because of the support and backing I had from my worker at Parent support link) I came to a decision that he either needed to get the help and change or he had to go, as I was no longer wanting my life to be overtaken by what he was doing.

2 years on and my partner got help and had a detox he is doing really well and even got a new job which he has been at for over a year now! We are doing well together and even went on our first holiday in years to Butlins which was great fun.

Parent support link have been a lifesaver to not just me but my partner as well. I would really hate to think what could of happened if I never called that night, chances are my partner would of drunk himself to death and I would have become even more depressed. I cannot thank these people enough. I owe them everything.

Best service and most valued service I have ever known.