This is brilliant. I was never a drinker, but I have seen all of this second hand. The numbing effect that, when someone reaches their 40s, makes them unable to deal with reality. Reality is rough. Truly. Alcohol is a great honesty serum and people rarely know how to get honest without it of they've never practiced. It's painful. And it's painful to be close to people who don't know how to adjust to a sober life. Therapy is good. I'm super happy you brought that up..but its expensive. And many people won't do it. You've done a great job writing this!