[van4green]

When I lived with my ex-husband, his gambling debts were like the binding force that kept us together. Later, it became the thing that tore us apart. The shame and stigma associated with his gambling was immense. It was enough to keep you from seeking help.

I should have been sleeping while watching TV, but instead I spent my days scouring the city for him. I was often checking his pockets for clues that I hoped wouldn’t surface, I lived in fear of the phone ringing.

He created the crisis, I ended up cleaning up the mess. For years, I had a moment of clarity when I was in hospital with a serious injury. At the time, I was stressed and emotional, my injury was nothing in comparison. The only thing on my mind was my ex-husband’s gambling. He was home alone, and that worried me.

After returning home from the hospital, I sought help from a therapist. I realised that my troubled marriage was over and that I couldn’t fix it. I had to let him go. Now that I’m doing better, travelling locally and overseas, and spending time with family, I enjoy gardening and reading.

And there’s a large number of people who are like myself. Maybe they are suffering or they are in the process of doing so right now. But know this, there is hope for everyone, and even the most difficult times can be overcome. The message is clear- anyone can recover from something if they set their mind to it.

[Dunc]

Hello

Thanks for starting a thread in the Gambling Therapy 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 Groups 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!

• This reply was modified 1 year, 8 months ago by Dunc.

[Author]

Posts