Hi Ashley
First and foremost, you are not stupid, there are no guidebooks handed out to married couples telling them how to cope if the addiction to gamble comes into their lives – it is not something one could be expected to know about; it is certainly not something that either of you asked for or wanted.
You write that each time he slips, he admits that he has a problem but you don’t say what he does about it. This time you have done something different by coming here for support but what is he doing that is different?
I have never heard of an addicted gambler changing his life for good without support. There is no reason for him to try and go it alone when there is so much help to be found. Promising that ‘this time will be the last’ is what he wants to believe but they are just words.
What do ‘you’ really want? Do you want to kick him out? I will never suggest that you kick him out or ask him to stay but what I hope to do is to give you knowledge of his addiction so that you can make an informed decision that is right for you, for your children and ultimately for your husband.
Time has sneaked up on me tonight but I will write again tomorrow, I wanted to get a reply off to you so that you know you are being heard and understood.
I know that your husband can control his gambling and be the husband you want him to be and equally important, I know he can be the man he wants to be. If I didn’t know this I wouldn’t be here.
I will post again soon but in the meantime, I hope it helps to know that everything you have said is understood.
Velvet