Gambling Addiction & Recovery Support Group

I hope this is the beginning of a new path to recovery. May God give you the strenght to keep going for your own sake & for your family. Taking one day at a time can make the difference, there is nothing we can do about the past, that is gone but you can always start brand new today. The future no one knows what it holds that is why living in the present & trying to give your best it's what matters. I am married to a man with a gambling addiction, from this other side "the spouse" it's extremely hard too mainly because of the emotional & financial problems an addiction can generate, it's not easy seeing that you do not have money for even grocereies or gas to understand WHY? if the addict knows ( I think) that he/she is hurting everyone with those actions. It's not easy to get back the trust your siginifant other once had in you when many promises have been broken, when you have been lied to but let me tell you if your intentions are TRUE & you are really willing to stop & accept you have a problem it's much easier for the spouse to help you & give you the benefit of the doubt. Marriage is that to learn, to forgive, to understand, to be there. We know that the addict does not do it on purpose to hurt us but it's hard to understand why if you know is so wrong... I hope you can overcome this problem & can find in your husband the support you need to keep going. It has to be some compromising like the spouse will be the one handling all the money & you willing to accept it, because you are never sure if you are going to be tempted to spend again. It has to be someone in control since the person with the gambling problem has none. Don't give up deep inside of you there is the love that brought you 2 together in the first place. The first step is to accept the problem & understand that there are things you can not change but those you can are in your hands. Take care.

That was one beautiful reply Bebita! I couldn't have said it any better myself nor would I want to try......Thank you for putting it all in perspective. :-) mamabear21

today is day one for me too. And like your husband, mine has no idea how much I go through in a night-thanks to my ability to juggle accounts and visit the atm in the casino. So I'll say a prayer for both of us. Others overcome this and we will too.

Hi Cwillie..
Welcome to D.S.
Sandra gams5.

Today is day one for me too. My game of choice is "online" games, specifically BINGO and slots on BINGO sites. Before this most recent bout my game of choice was Texas Hold'em. Thank god for the ban (or at least somewhat of a ban) in the US. Though I don't travel to casinos to play, when I am on business travel I spend every extra bit of time I have gambling if there are casinos in the area. I hit rock bottom on Friday when I told my wonderful and tolerant husband that he only solution to or financial situation (which is largely my fault) is bankruptcy.

I'm on day ten of no gambling and trust me that is a long time for me. I just can't stand it not having any money for extra groceries or a lunch out because I spent what I had and then wrote checks and took money from my savings. Last month I even sold some jewelry to gamble with and that didn't last long. I truly hope you have some friends or family to help you with this. I finally told my friends and family and they said they didn't know it was so bad. I started GA meetings ten days ago and that was a good start. I haven't had urges yet, but I know temptations are going to come and I am ready. I sure am glad you know you have a problem because that's the beginning of recovery.