Hi, I’m new to this forum.
I found out about my husband’s gambling in July. I was very angry and did not understand addiction at all. Over a period of weeks, he got support and I got support and I told him I would support him to get through it. A few weeks ago his mental health was so bad I had to get him to GP and under the community mental health team and get a safety plan drawn up as he was a suicide risk.
I thought this was rock bottom - and with support we could get through.
With anti-depressants starting to slightly work, he has now told me he does not want our life, me, family life, our house. He wants a divorce.
I’m devastated as put so much into the relationship and wanted to stay together after all we have been through over the years and for our beloved daughter. I’m so hurt that after standing by him, he just turns round and says easily that he’ll never get back the feeling for us, that it’s all his fault, he’s screwed up to much, needs to be on his own etc…. in all this I also need to fight for my daughter - who will be much more secure and stable with me. So I need to fight for half the house and to keep my pension.
i just can’t face all of it. And uprooting my daughter when she is so settled. Just feel totally heartbroken and anxious.
I also wonder if courts take someone’s gambling into consideration when making a settlement. Why should I give up my savings to a gambler when I need to protect our daughter.
I am just so hurt and confused. I thought it was the guilt and shame making him feel he had to be alone - but the way he is talking, it does not seem to be that way 🙁
Hi Marcy15,
Welcome to the forum and thank you for sharing what sounds like such a hard situation for everyone involved. GamCare provides support for people who are affected by someone else's gambling harms. 1-2-1 support with a practitioner can be of great benefit while trying to navigate such an upsetting time in your life.
Please reach out, we are here for you and want to help, you can call the helpline and ask them to refer you into 1-2-1 support in your local area: Chat to us now - GamCare
or if you prefer you can refer yourself into your local service by finding them here: Find local support - GamCare
We wish you all the best,
Jane
Forum Admin
I'm really struggling with my online gambling addiction
Hi gk2025,
Well done, for reaching out to the forum- If you need some further guidance and support to help with your gambling problem, you can reach out to the helpline.
Please don’t be alone with this – our HelpLine on 0808 8020 133 and our 1:1 Livechat are both open 24 hours every day.
We wish you all the best
Forum Admin
We are available 24 hours a day, every day of the year. You can also contact us for free on 0808 80 20 133. If you would like to find out more about the service before you start, including information on confidentiality, please click below. Call recordings and chat transcripts are saved for 28 days for quality assurance.
