Me [28 M] having issues with my girlfriend [25 F] of 1 year who becomes very mean when intoxicated

There's two major problems here. The first is that she's behaving terribly towards you. The second is that she's minimising the effect her behaviour has on you. She doesn't seem at all sorry. She isn't changing.

I've been in a similar situation before, but nothing that bad. The truth is that you can shine a light on her behaviour, but what happens next is really up to her -- you may not be able to get her to do a bit of introspection & make positive changes.

Firstly, does she have an alcohol problem, and does she generally binge drink? How many units a week is she drinking? Whether or not she is truly suffering an addiction, I'd say anyone whose behaviour becomes out of control has a problem. If she is drinking to destruction, then she needs help.

Here's what I'd advise:

Firstly, STAND UP FOR YOURSELF.

Explain that you're not going to entertain her drunken behaviour any more. Make it crystal clear that the next time it happens, you'll leave immediately. Have a contingency plan and make sure a friend can look after her if she's wrecked. If, for whatever reason you can't do this (e.g. you go out and you're the only one who can see her home safe), then try to frequent places that do not serve alcohol. If this causes an argument, just do your best to hold the line. Don't head out if you can't agree on this.

Once you're out, if she starts with the bullshit, calmly tell her that you've already made yourself clear about this and her behaviour is unacceptable. Then leave. Like pow. Gone. No argument, no debate. No scene for the friends and colleagues. If she wants to vent and make a fool of herself, fine. You won't be there to hear it. You have to be able to stick to this.

Once you get home, send her terse text that reinforces that she's too drunk, verbally abusive and you'd already warned her that you'd head home if she was out of order. Don't downplay the gravity of what she is doing or apologise in any way. Tell her that you need to talk when she sobers up, then leave her to it until she gets back in touch sober. If she sends you a load of pissed-up abuse, great. It won't make great reading when she's sober and underlines there is a problem.

If she doesn't explain herself, apologise and vow to improve her behaviour, then you're pretty much done.

The other key thing you have to decided is, how long are you going to put up with this without her showing any kind of improvement? If she does improve in the short term, what if her behaviour regresses? It sounds like there's also some other problems in the relationship that need to be addressed when you're both calm and sober.

Also, you've only been seeing her for a year. She's still meant to be on best behaviour. There's worse to come, my friend. On the whole, it doesn't look good.

/r/relationships Thread