If you’ve been living with a gambler husband in the house, no doubt you’re living with a lot of fear, shame, uncertainty, and a great deal of anger and resentment. Debts may be mounting, your marriage may be on the rocks, unthinkable money worries could be part of your everyday experience.
At the same time, you may still want to help your husband get gambling addiction treatment—if he’s willing to recognize there’s a problem.
In the meantime, here are some tips for how to deal with a gambler husband.
1. Start by helping yourself.
You have the right to take care of yourself emotionally and financially. Never blame yourself for your husband’s problems. And don’t let their addiction take over your life. Ignoring your own needs is a way to burn out quickly.
2. Don’t try to handle it alone.
Coping with your husband’s gambling addiction can seem so overwhelming that it might seem easier to rationalize their requests “one more time.” You might feel ashamed like you’re the only person who has problems like this. If you reach out for support, you’ll realize that many wives have had to deal with this problem.
3. Set limits in managing money.
To make sure your gambling husband stays accountable and to prevent relapse, plan to take over the family finances. But this doesn’t mean you’re responsible for controlling every one of the gambler’s impulses to gamble. Your first priorities are to make sure your own finances and credit aren’t at risk.
4. Consider how to handle requests for money.
Pathological gamblers often become very good at requesting money either directly or indirectly. They may use manipulation, pleading, or even threats to get it. Sometimes it takes practice to make sure that you aren’t enabling their gambling addiction.
Find out more about gambling addiction treatment at Lifetime Recovery.
Getting gambling addiction treatment in New Jersey
We support gambling addicts and their families in recovering from gambling addiction and its harmful effects. If you’re ready to come out of hiding from that gambling problem that’s causing so much pain in your home, we’re here for you.
We’re also one of the few facilities that has a dedicated treatment program for gambling addiction along with our accredited substance use disorder programs. We care about every client because many of us have been in your place.
