New member

4 Posts
4 Users
0 Reactions
1,138 Views
Advice6
(@advice6)
Posts: 2
Topic starter
 

Hi

I would like some advice please.

I have been wih my partner for 3 years and found out a year in that he is in debt for gambling. He received counselling straight away and was clear for a year but I found out that he recently relapsed a couple of months ago. He has promised me that this is it this time and it won't happen again. He is going to see a counsellor again but worried about taking next steps in our relationship again as I am scared he will be gambling free for a year and will so the same again. Has anyone's partner done something similar and been cured or does it seem to be a slippery slope? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 
Posted : 11th May 2017 9:42 pm
(@Anonymous)
Posts: 0
 

I understand exactly how you feel. It is great that he's getting the help that he needs but you have to make a decision.....treatment might work this time and he may never gamble again but there's again possibility that he could relapse. Are you willing to go through it again? The most important thing u can do is protect yourself financially. Keep all your bank accounts separate. Make sure you know that he's not choosing to do this...it's an illness...often full of lies and deception and manipulation but mind yourself....stay strong. If he's lying what can you do about it....Nothing. he has to be the one looking for the help and can't be forced. He has to do it himself.
I hope things work out for you but make sure you protect yourself and stay strong.

 
Posted : 13th May 2017 7:16 pm
(@Anonymous)
Posts: 0
 

Hello, I'm currently in the same boat, I know exactly how you feel, I don't know what to do either, I can't sleep or eat, I've gone through every emotion 3 times over in a few days I'm exhausted, I don't know if I am strong enough to live like this, I've been questioning my own worth, he did go straight to the GP who did nothing, and is self excluding, going to go to GA meetings, and I've restricted his phone, so he is trying but I just can't believe a word he says, I'm trying my hardest to be supportive but he gets so horrible when I ask stuff or try understand what the triggers are, or if I ask anything at all really, we're supposed to be getting married in a few weeks I'm completely stuck on what to do, I'm not financially connected to him in anyway and everything is in my name, house/cars/all my banks he doesn't have access to money but applied and got 2 credit cards even though his credit rating is none existent, I've just found out about them, I don't know how he will pay them off, he has no money, I don't want to pay them because I will be boosting his credit rating whilst digging him out of trouble, it's the lies and deceit that hurt the most, I just don't know how I can help him. It's so hard. Sorry for the long rant.

 
Posted : 14th May 2017 7:13 am
Brother-of-gambler
(@brother-gambler)
Posts: 11
 

Just my tuppenceworth;

A compulsive gambler is not "cured". They are either actively gambling (with all of the problems that go with that) or they are in remission.

It's good that you aren't financially connected, but in the long term it won't be enough. What is required for a gambler not to gamble is for someone else (in this case, YOU) to entirely control their finances. They must have no access to the household money (even though they earned it), it must all be handled by you. They can be given small amounts of pocket money (cash) to pay for lunches, bus fares etc, but that is all. No bank cards. No credit cards. Forever.

Don't underestimate the magnitude of this task. Are you good with managing money? Do you understand how financial products work? If not, you better learn fast. Are you prepared to take on this responsibility?

And then there is the shift in power within your relationship. In some ways you will be acting more like a parent-child than husband-wife. Are you prepared for this, and the possible resentment that goes with it?

It's not something to be taken lightly, and as has been repeated many times on here, living with an active CG can be a living nightmare.

 
Posted : 29th May 2017 10:39 am

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.

Find out more
Close