The seven stages of separation
Anonymous: We've been ill and R and I have been arguing about a parenting decision. It seems like I'll be stuck on stage three of the seven stages of separation – anger and bargaining – for some time
The novel that gives me insight into my alcoholic husband
I have sort of fallen in love with a character in a novel who is a fortysomething hard-drinking writer – a brutal narcissist and over-the-hill, womanising alcoholic. Some would say I have questionable taste in men
I’ve stopped obsessing about my ex
I'm enjoying time away from my husband and the children. Until recently, he was on my mind all the time – finally I can stop obsessing about him
Women, we’ve got to talk about our drinking
Ann Dowsett Johnston: British girls are the west's biggest teenage drinkers. As we were with tobacco, we're in deep denial about the dangers of alcohol
My house needs a rejig – and so does my brain
It's easy to get addicted to self-pity but making a list of my five best and worst moments each day helps
Our marriage may be over, but we’ll always have Paris
I have good memories of the past, including a romantic weekend abroad 10 years ago, when we looked after each other
On my own I have time to think
On holiday, away from my husband, my enthusiasm for life is returning – I feel content
A glass of wine a day may be good for mental health, Spanish study finds
Researchers find people who drink two to seven glasses of wine a week are less prone to depression
Newly single, I suddenly feel happy again
At my parents', with the children, I feel protected by the familiarity of the house and my family
Telling the children about our separation
It's finally time to speak to the children about R moving out, and it's a million times worse than I imagined. I don't know why I pictured a calmer, less emotionally charged scene
I’ve had the abortion. Now it’s time to move on
At my support group, I finally realise how my life has to change
My sister lives across the ocean but she’s always there for me
With only a couple of days to go until the abortion, I feel lost. But after talking to my sister, who lives in the United States, things start to look better
R is now using the pregnancy as an excuse to drink
I am angry that even R's addiction has not drowned my love for him, and the possible love for a future child together
‘Out of all my pregnancies, this is the biggest surprise’
I'm certain I don't want another baby, but I can't help thinking that if we were in a more stable relationship being pregnant would be something to celebrate