I was closet drinking Vodka for a couple of years from like 04 to 06. My wife kept finding bottles hidden in the basement. She would confront me and I would promise not to do it again. Then I would and get caught again.
It was ugly and it threatened my marriage. Not only from the drinking part of it, but from a lack of trust she had in me. I finally wised up and stopped doing it. I was in a very dark place during those years for a few reasons.
I turned the page and while I am still a beer drinker now, I truly pick my spots and drink in moderation. My wife trusts me again and I have not betrayed that trust.
The one thing I would say about losing someones trust. Even once they tell you they really do trust you again, the tormenting thing for you as an individual is that its takes you a longer time for you to feel worthy of that trust, and part of you for a long period of time doesn't really believe they truly trust you. You think they are just saying they do. Its a bit of mental anguish, but I earned it.
Some might say I should have stopped drinking altogether but I was never really drinking a lot every day, just enough to numb my pain and feel medicated. I was probably drinking a little over a half pint of vodka a day.
It all started when I injured my shoulder and it took my career of installing flooring away from me forever. I couldn't deal with it, and was mired in depression for quite awhile. I had just turned 40 and I was in a very bad place.
I greatly admire and respect those who beat addictions. I smoked a pack of cigarettes a day for 13 years and quit cold turkey. Its been 25 years since I quit smoking. I am still thankful today that I broke free of that habit.