My Husband Has A Gambling Addiction And Is Ruining Our Family Finances. How Can I Get Him To Get Some Help?

My Husband Has A Gambling Addiction And Is Ruining Our Family Finances. How Can I Get
Him To Get Some Help?

No form of addiction is ever good for anyone. While some ruin the health( through drug or
alcohol addiction ) others damage the family's finances as well as relationships. Gambling is an
ever-consuming addiction and like a metal eaten by its rust, gambling will serve as a
greedy Pacman, gnawing at the finances, the harmonious living, and trust within the family.

In the US alone, gambling has a 40% contribution to the growing rate of divorces. This number
is devastating to contemplate since it indicates countless broken families just for this vice alone.

Most gamblers are unfortunately composed of men, most are fathers or husbands who should
be the primary protector of the family's well-being. With them falling into the dangerous trap of
gambling, the future of the family is quite bleak. The only solution to prevent the catastrophe
from happening in the family ( like literally living on the streets after using all mortgages in an
uncertain game) is to get the gambler to stop. But how?

If it were that simple, many would have succeeded in this area. Just because gambling already
morphed into an addiction, it's going to be hard to make them quit. But you can use these tips
to guide you:

1. As a wife, it is essential for you to secure the family's finances first if you have a compulsive
gambler of a husband. That means handling the joint account alone to pay the bills and all
expenses.

2. Discuss the problem with your husband and let him understand that casino games are
designed to lessen the odds of the player winning. That means he is only losing money in the
process.

3. On the occasion that the husband is trying to quit but can't seem to fight the triggers, let him
play with a small amount of cash in his pocket. You can't completely make it to stop and expect
success in one try.

No, there is going to be lapses and occasional 'breaking all the rules' moment. Let him
overcome it slowly but surely by cutting him some slack.

4. Identify the triggers. What can set your husband to regress to his habit? Take note of what
sets him off. That way, it will be easy to make an environment for his 'rehabilitation'.

5. Create another habit-forming activity for him. Encourage him to involve himself in healthy
pursuits such as going fishing, playing sports, and the like. Just like smokers trying to quit
smoking use a lollipop if they feel like putting a cigarette stick on their mouth. The use of
alternatives to replace old habits is known to be an effective method.

Since gambling sparks the reward system in the brain just like how an alcohol or drug triggers
dopamine production, playing sports is good.

In conclusion, it is also important to seek counsel while doing all these simultaneously. That
way, the addiction will be dealt with professionally using proven and tested methods.

With your effort to restore the family and good relationships, the problem with gambling will be
just another hurdle in the family and you will undoubtedly come victorious.