[bella2907]

My Dad’s addiction has become increasingly worse over the past month to the point where he has left home. I do not know how do deal with it or how to try and help him.
He has shut down and shut himself out from myself and mum.

[velvet]

Hello Bella

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

Read about the friends and Family Online Groups

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!

[velvet]

well done You.

I am going off to bed now but you have made a brilliant start on your recovery tonight. I will write soon

Goodnight

Sleep well

Velvet

[velvet]

Hi Bella
I am sorry that I haven’t come back to you before but I have had a situation in my life that I had to deal with.
However I hope that you will return to this forum where I can support you through the sadness that has engulfed your life.
It is so difficult when a parent is not able to be the person that you want them to be but sometimes in our lives we come up against situations that we cannot change. At such times it is important that we look after ourselves.
I was hoping that you would pop into a group so that we could ‘talk’ in real time – maybe on Thursday evening between 20.00-21.00 hours UK time you could drop in – nothing said in a group appears on the forum, you will be very welcome.
I suspect your mum is struggling too, are you supporting each other?
Your dad didn’t ‘choose’ to be addicted to gambling, nobody would make that choice. He probably gambled some time ago for fun without realising that for him it would lead to addiction.
The best way you can help him is to look after you, be the best and the happiest person that you can be and live the life that you deserve.
Do you have siblings? Is there anybody in your family that you can talk to?
Please update, I will be looking for you.
I wouldn’t be writing to you Bella if I didn’t know that your dad couldn’t control his gambling. It takes courage to control it and often takes a great deal of pain, both for the person with the addiction and those who love them.
Speak soon
Velvet

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