"It's hard because you always saw that glimmer of hope in him that he was still there, but it got to a point... I ended up nearly breaking myself to trying to help Michael."
"Eventually, I had to become selfish and shut him out, so that he could get help because only he could be the one to seek help."
"I felt really down, like, 'What's wrong with me? Why is he doing this to me? Is it our relationship?' And then I realised, that it's something Michael was going through, so you have to learn to understand that."
"We become, as they say in the programme, master manipulators. We're able to manipulate people around us and they believe we're going to change this time and that this will be the last time."
Claire Harkin faced the challenges of her husband Michael's cocaine and alcohol addiction for years. Witnessing his struggles was profoundly difficult, leading her to prioritize her own well-being and their family. She recognized that Michael's addiction was not a reflection of their relationship but a personal battle he needed to confront. Michael acknowledged that he was not ready to change initially and often manipulated those around him. Their journey emphasizes the importance of self-care and understanding in the recovery process for both partners.
Read at www.bbc.com
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