[van4green]

When I lived with my ex-husband, his gambling debts were like the binding force that kept us together. Later, it became the thing that tore us apart. The shame and stigma associated with his gambling was immense. It was enough to keep you from seeking help.

I should have been sleeping while watching TV, but instead I spent my days scouring the city for him. I was often checking his pockets for clues that I hoped wouldn’t surface, I lived in fear of the phone ringing.

He created the crisis, I ended up cleaning up the mess. For years, I had a moment of clarity when I was in hospital with a serious injury. At the time, I was stressed and emotional, my injury was nothing in comparison. The only thing on my mind was my ex-husband’s gambling. He was home alone, and that worried me.

After returning home from the hospital, I sought help from a therapist. I realised that my troubled marriage was over and that I couldn’t fix it. I had to let him go. Now that I’m doing better, travelling locally and overseas, and spending time with family, I enjoy gardening and reading.

And there’s a large number of people who are like myself. Maybe they are suffering or they are in the process of doing so right now. But know this, there is hope for everyone, and even the most difficult times can be overcome. The message is clear- anyone can recover from something if they set their mind to it.

[Author]

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