Still unsure if your husband is “just” a heavy drinker or a true alcoholic? The truth is: chasing a diagnosis often becomes a distraction that delays the healing process.

In this episode, we talk about why trying to “figure him out” won’t fix anything—and what you can do instead. Whether your husband meets a textbook definition or not, the chaos still hurts, and you deserve peace.

You'll hear:

• Why obsessing over the “right” label can keep wives stuck in fear and codependency

• 4 litmus test questions to help you decide when a boundary is needed

• How both heavy drinking and alcoholism cause emotional instability in the home

• A Christian perspective on stepping forward without all the answers

• Real-life discussion of when helping crosses the line into enabling

This episode is an invitation to stop diagnosing and start discerning what God is calling you to do in your family.

💌 If you have questions you’d like me to cover on the podcast, or want more info about 1-on-1 coaching, email me at hello@wifeontherocks.com

Are you constantly wondering whether your husband is an alcoholic or “just” a heavy drinker? Maybe you've searched for clarity in books, blogs, or online quizzes—hoping that labeling his behavior will give you peace.

In this episode, we break down what the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous says about the three types of drinkers, including what defines a “real alcoholic”—and why understanding this framework may help, but it’s not your responsibility to diagnose.

You'll hear:

• A clear overview of the 3 drinker types described in AA literature

• What a "real alcoholic" looks like according to the Big Book

• Why this knowledge can offer insight—but also keep wives stuck

• Real-life home examples of what each type might look like in daily life

• Encouragement for Christian wives navigating confusion and chaos

This episode offers education—not to label your husband—but to help you understand what you’re dealing with and why his drinking affects your heart and home either way.

If you want to read the full chapter regarding this in the Big Book of AA here is a link to the Big Book for free online on the AA website. Scroll down for Chapter 2. There is a Solution. (pp.17-29)

https://www.aa.org/the-big-book

💌 Want to be added to the waitlist or learn more about 1:1 coaching? Email me at hello@wifeontherocks.com

💭 Have a question you'd like answered on the show? Email me anytime at hello@wifeontherocks.com and I may include it in a future episode.

If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re helping your husband or enabling his addiction, this episode is for you. As Christian wives, we’re called to love and support—but when codependency creeps in, it can be hard to tell if our actions are helping or hurting.

In today’s episode, I share two simple but powerful questions—your litmus test—to help you decide where a boundary might be needed. These questions will help you check your motives, discern if you're stepping into an enabler role, and bring clarity to those hard, in-the-moment decisions.

We’ll talk about how not setting boundaries can leave you feeling more like his mother than his wife, and how resentment often builds when we’re stuck in a cycle of codependency. We'll also explore the ever-shifting line between helping from a place of faith and unintentionally enabling, and why that line often has to be redrawn with each situation.

If you're navigating the storm of loving a man in addiction and want to reclaim your peace, this episode offers both practical tools and spiritual encouragement.

✨ Want to be added to the waitlist or get more info about 1:1 coaching sessions? 📩 Email me at hello@wifeontherocks.com – I’d love to support you.

💬 Have a question you’d love to hear answered on the show? Send it to hello@wifeontherocks.com, and I’ll try to include it in a future episode.