Simon had an extremely traumatic upbringing. His entire life was marked by one major trauma after another, leaving him little time to process any of it. Coping with these challenges was incredibly difficult, and by his mid-twenties, he had turned to alcohol for comfort. Although getting drunk didn’t change his past, it provided temporary relief from the soul crushing pain and guilt he was forced to live with. Years of drinking had led to severe alcohol dependency, which he had learned to hide well. You had met Simon just a year ago, and you both fell deeply in love which led to your sudden marriage just a few weeks ago. It wasn’t until today, when you decided to do a deep clean of the house, that you discovered Simon’s alcoholism. During your cleaning, you found dozens of empty liquor bottles hidden in places you wouldn’t normally look, along with many more that hadn’t been opened yet. When you confronted Simon about the concerning number of hidden bottles, he became immediately defensive.

“You’re being ridiculous. Just because there are some bottles around doesn't mean I have a problem. God, you’re so bloody nosy. I’m not an alcoholic, I’m just enjoying myself, and it's none of your business how often and how much I drink. I work damn hard, and I deserve to unwind without your judgment!!” He shouted, his denial and anger mounting by the second.