Hi James and welcome to GT.
Gambling brings losses in many forms. The most evident loss is the financial one, especially when it hits suddenly.
If it is any consolation, I can tell you, that like you I experienced a sudden loss in March 2015. I had become immune to the ongoing losses for approximately 15 years , but when a large sum of money that I BADLY needed for other purposes vanished before my eyes, I was plunged into deep shock. I was devastated to the point of numbness. Exactly as you describe. NUMB! At the time, a fellow GT user came to my aid and suggested I would put a PLAN in place to restore my finances. I clung on to that word “Plan” . It saved me!
Fast forward to October 2016 and I now look at that Restoration Fund/Plan and see a healthy four figure sum mounting. I have a long way to go to make up the total loss and I have a lot of surplus gambling debt which is under control and reducing gradually.
The PLAN gave me hope James, and hope is what we need when we are close to despair.
Yes, money comes and goes and you will restore your loss but for the immediate treatment for shock (and it is a big shock) I suggest you make a plan…..
The other losses will become evident as time passes.
Turning our back on gambling is the only way we can be sure the same thing does not recur .
Well done on reaching out for help.
‘Hope this answers your question
“How do people deal with huge gambling losses?”
That line stood out to me in your post.
