The Dilemma of the Alcoholic Marriage [Hardcover]

Al-Anon Family Group Head Inc (Author)

Product Details

• Hardcover: 102 pages
• Publisher: Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters; Revised Expanded edition (June 1977)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0910034184
• ISBN-13: 978-0910034180
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.2 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #206,391 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

76 of 79 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A great tool in any relationship....., May 18, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Dilemma of the Alcoholic Marriage (Hardcover)

This is one of my favorite books....I think it really helps keep the focus on me. I blamed the alcoholic for my problems for so many years...I find with this book it helps me to see and accept my part in the disease and I am finally able to work on it. I like some of the candid stories and I find that no matter where I am in recovery...relationships are hard, especially when I never knew what a healthy one was until now. This is great reading......and another important piece of conference approved literature for Al Anon recovery.

31 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book for marriage, December 28, 2006

By 

O. Brown "Ms. O. Khannah-Brown" (Twopeas, WA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Dilemma of the Alcoholic Marriage (Hardcover)

****
This book is excellent for marriages when one of the partners is an alcoholic; it is also good for codependent marriages in general. Much of the book would apply to marriages where a partner is abusive, even if not alcoholic. The advice and illustrations are hands-on and useful. The book is about a hundred pages and very dated; however, the information is still valuable and well worth the price.

I have my copy highlighted throughout. Here is a sample quote:
"To see this situation realistically, she would have to understand how desperately the guilt-tormented alcoholic needs such weapons to bolster his own ego. When he uses these weapons to attack, it is not because he hates his wife but because he hates himself and needs to reassure himself that he is not all bad. He finds fault with the person nearest to him because it makes it a little easier for him to tolerate himself."

This book is a useful support to the spouse of an alcoholic, reflecting the Al-Anon philosophy and general good common sense, which is sometimes overlooked by the partner in the throes of chaos generated by living with an alcoholic/abusive partner. Highly recommended.
****

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very helpful book, August 7, 2009

By 

Elizabeth Stone "Music Addict" (Ohio, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: The Dilemma of the Alcoholic Marriage (Hardcover)

As all literature from Al-anon, this book is sympathetic to the dilemma of the codependent spouse dealing with an alcoholic/addict, but it gives much more than sympathy. It is also very firm in telling us what we need to do to put the focus on taking care of ourselves no matter what the spouse is doing. The book is a quick read that should be referred to again and again, especially by a beginner. It is also a must read for those of us who grew up in alcoholic family systems and who have married other addictive and compulsive types, such as workaholics, food addicts, ragers, compulsive spenders, gamblers, sex addicts, etc. This book can be an eye-opener for those that feel they would be perfectly happy if their spouses were not using or drinking, because the book constantly reinforces that recovery has to start with us first, no matter what our spouses might be doing.