Thanks to Melody for this seminal conversation. I pray the addiction recovery world starts to support partners in these marriages.

Pathological – adjective

1. relating to pathology.”the interpretation of pathological studies”
   • involving, caused by, or of the nature of a physical or mental disease.”pathological changes associated with senile dementia”

Pathology implies a person’s inability to 1) Change or consistently sustain positive changes 2) Grow to any meaningful emotional or spiritual depth 3) Develop insight about how his behavior negatively effects others