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Hello zb

Thanks for starting a thread in the Gambling Therapy friends and family forum. This forum will provide you with warmth and understanding from your peers.

Feel free to use the friends and family group, you’ll find the times for these if you click on the “Group times” box on our Home page. Now that you have introduced yourself you’ll find that many of the people you meet here have already read your initial introduction and they’ll welcome you in like an old friend 🙂

If you’re the friend or family member of someone who is either in, or has been through, the GMA residential programme please take extra care to make sure that nothing you say in groups, or on our forums, inadvertently identifies that person. Even if your loved one isn’t connected with GMA, please don’t identify them either directly or indirectly just in case they decide to use the site themselves.

You’ll find a lot of advice on this site, some of which you’ll follow, some you won’t…but that’s ok because only you fully understand your
situation and what’s best for you and the people you love. So, take the support you need and leave the advice you don’t because it all comes from a caring, nurturing place 🙂

We look forward to hearing all about you!

Take care

The Gambling Therapy Team

PS: Let me just remind you to take a look at our

privacy policy and terms and conditions so you know how it all works!

Hi ZB
A CG (compulsive gambler) who has therapy treatment and learns to control his/her addiction will change and sometimes those around them struggle with the change that occurs. Recovery for a CG has to be, to a large extent very selfish because controlling the addiction is incredibly difficult and they need to put their mind and soul into it. They can be withdrawn, suspicious of loved ones, unable to settle. They can be more serious, less able to be the life and soul of the party because they are watching their own behaviour all the time.
How long it is since your husband came home from treatment, have you had support during his treatment, what did you expect from him on his return?
If the expectation is that recovery is instantly complete following treatment then those who love the CG will struggle because a true recovery takes time
I will wait to hear from you again before I write any further but early recovery is a difficult time for everybody and it is very important that you look after yourself too.
Velvet

Hi zbuhaha,
It is well documented that mood and other disorders often exist alongside gambling disorder in an individual. The majority of these disorders are present prior to the gambling disorder although evidence would suggest that for many others, they appear after the commencement of compulsive gambling . Check out this site for a quick summary

http://www.ncrg.org/sites/default/files/oec/pdfs/ncrg_fact_sheet_comorbidity.pdf

I hope this helps . My own experience is that there is a tendency to blame several disorders on gambling disorder , when in fact it may well be that gambling is masking what is already present .

I am in awe of the support you are showing to your loved one and congratulate you on seeking professional help to do enable you to do what’s best for your family . However, if you feel scared, you must do what is best for you, even if it means some time apart. This is not being selfish, it is self preservation . I hope this helps.

It’s good that you are going to try CBT. CBT will definitely improve his condition.

I tried CBT at the OCD and Anxiety Clinic of Ontario, I found it helpful http://ocdontario.com