Video Game Addiction Support Group

I believe my husband is addicted to video games. He is self-employed and over the past several months, business has slowed down considerably and we've been struggling financially. To the point we nearly lost our home - bankruptcy seemed to be our only option. I am currently the only one who works consistently and brings home a regular paycheck -what the bankruptcy court doesn't take. He doesn't feel compelled to look for permanent employment with a steady income. He hasn't drawn a paycheck since about March, and refuses to file for unemployment.
Therefore, he is home a lot and finds no need to help out with the laundry, dishes, housework, etc. He doesn't feel it's responsibility, even though he's home all day and I end up working 8-12 hour days to try to support us. He spends those hours instead, playing video games and often plays well into the early morning hours.
I found out several months ago that he has been communicating with a woman/girl while they play the games. They have even texted via cell phone and over the Playstation network. I have told him on numerous ocassions that I do not approve, but he still does it and has even gone to links to hide the fact that he is talking to her by erasing the posts and texts. (He doesn't realize that I have seen several of them).
He has now added another girl/woman to his communicating.
It has become a frustrating ordeal for me as we are in our early 40's and have been married for almost 20 years and over the past couple of years - since he started playing these games and got on the "network" he has slowly withdrawn from our relationship - hardly has time to fit me and the kids in, unless it's Saturday morning sports.
If our son, needs help with his homework and I'm busy doing something else or not home from work yet, he get's upset if he has to interrupt his playing time.
It's so hard to know what to do - I feel that if I have asked him to stop communicating with these women/girls (who knows how old they are) and he doesn't stop, he doesn't care about my feelings, and respect flew out the window.
We have an 18 year old daughter and a 9 year old son, who have this for an influence. First, I don't want my daughter to think that because I have put up with this - she has to in her life, when she finds Mr. Right. Secondly, I don't want my son (which his father limits his playing time) to become like his father - he already makes comments about his father's inability to stop playing.
Baffled, in limbo as to what to do. Do I take steps to kick him out of the house? Or, put up with it for my children? Advice, suppport are greatly appreciated.
Posted on 11/04/09, 06:11 pm