Hi D
I am pleased that you have told your husband that you are still struggling but that you are doing something about it – his lukewarm reaction hopefully means he heard you on some level. It is common for many of those who love CGs to turn a deaf ear because they cannot cope with what is being presented to them – it is better and easier to believe it isn’t true. It is also a fact D that most non-CGs do not understand the addiction to gamble unless they have sought knowledge of it. You have said that your husband has not shown interest in the family finances either which would be where most non-CGs begin to recognise that there is an inexplicable problem that requires further investigation.
You are not invisible; you are possibly one of the quiet ones but the quiet ones are just as important as those who enter a room and demand attention just by being there. I have quiet friends who sit on the periphery of groups but they are all special and I enjoy their company; I find they often have more to say that makes sense than all the egotists in the room.
Believe in yourself and others will believe in you. You have probably been held back with unnecessary guilt of an addiction that seeks to destroy self-confidence and self-esteem but there is nothing for you to be ashamed about; you didn’t ask for or want your addiction and what is special about ‘you’ is that you are standing up to it and that takes more gumption than many people, CG or not, possess.
You are the doing well and on this site your efforts are recognised for what they are – courageous and scary but offering great hope.
I can hear you and so will many others – I look forward to following your progress
Velvet
