Hi Hannah
In my opinion, numbness is a defence mechanism that kicks in when one hits rock bottom and there doesn’t seem to be an emotion left that adequately covers your feelings.
I am so pleased that you have written your post, I think it must have been hard for you to do it but I do believe that writing things down helps to clear ones brain.
Many compulsive gamblers don’t want to go to GA – they know that once they go they will hear things they don’t want to hear and maybe have to act in a way which they don’t feel ready to do. I suggest your husband could be afraid of trying to fight his addiction and failing – if he doesn’t enter the fight, he can’t fail. Many CGs are just afraid of entering a room of people with the compulsion to gamble when they are still denying that they own such a problem. Whatever the reason, however, we do have a Helpline on this site that is completely anonymous – your husband would be welcome to use it if he wanted to push his concerns around without commitment or judgement. The Helpline is there for you too.
Maybe you could download the Gamblers anonymous 20-questions from their website and show them to him – maybe he doesn’t realise his problem is a recognised addiction and that there is support for him. Maybe you could tell him that you are seeking support for yourself because you are taking his behaviour seriously.
Whatever you decide Hannah, please keep posting and I will reply to you. It would be great to ‘see’ you in a group.
I can’t give you answers but I can support you as you find your own – and you will
Velvet
