Gambling Addiction Help
- YOUR Stories!

Is your loved one a problem gambler?  Are you looking for gambling addiction help for yourself and your family?  One very valuable thing that helped me was to hear other people's gambling addiction related stories.  As sad as it may seem, it provides some degree of comfort to know that others are experiencing the same or similar things related to dealing with their loved one's gambling addiction.  Maybe it's because it provides some hope that there are others who have not only gone through the same thing, but who have recovered from it.  Also, perhaps there's some therapeutic benefit of sharing our stories with others.  You can skip down to share your Gambling Addiction Story, or for more background on the objectives of this site, please visit the Help With Gambling Addiction homepage.


Please Note:  This gambling addiciton help page is for loved ones of problem gamblers to share their stories.  If you're struggling with a gambling problem and would like to share YOUR story, please visit Compulsive Gambling Help.


I don't see that sharing our stories is a way to commiserate with one another, as that is typically not a helpful means of getting gambling problem help.  But rather, other people's stories help us to better understand our situation and to learn from what others have done to cope with their trials and tribulations.  We can learn both what to do, and what NOT to do!  If you can get to a Gam-Anon meeting, or share your story with a therapist, that's certainly highly recommended.  However, for many people, getting to a meeting is not always easy, or sharing your intimate thoughts is sometimes easier to do online.


Please share YOUR story and personal experience(s).  You're welcome to share what happened, how you felt then, or how you feel now, etc., but please keep the language clean.  Despite our desire to sometimes express ourselves with profanity, the spirit of this site is to share our stories so that others may benefit from them as they seek gambling addiction help.  Visitors to the site can also leave comments about your story, whether to share their own tidbits, or to provide advice.  The benefit of sharing your story here versus at meetings or other places, is that people's direct feedback, opinions, and advice are welcome, and the number of people that you can help with your story is tremendous given the reach of the Internet.


For those commenting, please don't leave comments like "You should leave him/her."  While in some cases that may be your recommendation, please respect the fact that this is not the path for everyone.  And if that is your advice, it should be accompanied by a thoughtful, well-rounded discussion.  One-liner comments with no thought or meat to them will be deleted in the spirit of maintaining the integrity of this gambling addiction help site. The path to gambling addiction help can be different for each person.  Thank you in advance for your understanding.


Submission Tips:
1.  The submission form below will only allow you to enter 3000 characters.  I expect that many people will find that this is not enough space!  You'll see the over character message once you submit your story.  If you get that message, please go ahead cut out a portion of your submission (highlight you selection and then press Ctrl-X) and paste it into a new submission (Ctrl-V) once you've completed your first submission.  You can do this as many times as you wish.  Once submitted, I will ensure that they link together.  I recommend simply using the same title including a reference to "Part 1" then "Part 2" and so on for each submission.  This will help me easily link them together in the right order.  You can also write your story in a Word document and simply paste it into the form in separate submissions.  If you're having any difficulty with this process at all, please feel free to Contact me.

2.  In the spirit of maintaining anonymity, please only include your first name, or an alias if you prefer.  Anyone submitting either your full name, or the full name of your gambler will result in my deleting last names before approving submissions.  Again, the spirit of this gambling addiction help site is to be helpful to those affected by the gambling problem in their family, and is not meant to be used as a vehicle to harm anyone.  You can also leave the Name field completely blank to submit anonymously without a name at all.


If I comment on people's submissions, you'll find me submitting under the alias name Mark.  I look forward to hearing your stories.  I know sharing your story will help many people; thank you!

Share Your Gambling Addiction Story

If you've been impacted by a loved one who is a problem gambler, please share your story!

Stories From Other Visitors

Click below to see contributions from other visitors to this page...

Advice 
My husband has been gambling since the day I met him. The past year or so it has gotten out of control. He has been going to a sports bar that has machines …

My Wife Is A Slot Machine Addict 
My wife goes to an Indian casino in San Diego County anywhere from two to five times a month, and probably wastes at least $1,000 per month--maybe more. …

Am I Liable For My Gambler's Debt? 
One of the first things that spouses of gamblers tend to focus on first is thinking about how to protect themselves and their family from the financial …

A Wife Of A Compulsive Gambler - 4 Weeks Down After Discovery 
My husband is a compulsive gambler. I have known for about four weeks. I cannot be sure of the exact date; time for me has stood still. I am stuck in a …

Addiction Abstinence 
As someone who has a partner that has a history of gambling addiction, I struggle with how to deal with abstinence. Once a gambling addict becomes self …

Gam-Amon is a Blessing to Me 
I began attending Gam-Anon about 2 1/2 years ago; just a few days after my dad admitted to having a gambling problem. We were in emotional chaos, and the …

I Have Gambling and Mental Issues 
I gambled away my money and my life. When I feel depressed for not having money, I would end up in a casino. Sometimes I won big, however, most of the …

What is the right thing to do to support a gambler? 
Married for thirteen years. Have run the gamut of emotions and so called solutions. I have been reading a bunch of gamblers stories and many that are in …

How compulsive gambling destroyed our family. 
I have finally had enough of my husband's gambling. I have been reflecting back on our life, and am stunned how I hid the gambling from everyone who loves …

I'm A Recovering Addicted Compulsive Gambler 
My name is Catherine, and I'm a recovering addicted compulsive gambler. Jan 29th, 2014 will be my 7 year recovery B-day. As I spent time reading your website …

Shock, Fear and Guilt 
My best friend confided in me recently that she may have a gambling problem. Unknown until the last two years, she was in an abusive relationship for …

Didn't think gambling addiction could EVER happen to me - I was too smart for it 
I have been blessed in one way...that I didn't lose everything that I owned or have saved... But, I've lost a lot. I've lost about 2 million dollars in …

Gamblers Anonymous Didn't Work For Me 
I know that others have had very different experiences in Gamblers Anonymous, but for me it was a painful experience to say the least. Week after week …

My Compulsive Gambling Story 
Thinking about my compulsive gambling story really makes me sad. I should clarify that my story is about learning that my husband has had a gambling problem …

My Gam-Anon Experience 
My Gam-Anon story may not be the typical story that you'll hear. First, let me start by saying that I have gone to a ton of meetings, and I have heard …

My Son Has a Gambling Addiction Problem 
Just about three years ago (it’s now July 2011), I found out about the secret gambling life a family member had been living for a very long time. It immediately …

Click here to write your own.


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