Emotional Stability In An Unstable Gambling World
Thursday, June 5th, 2008 Subscribe To Our Feed
You are in a relationship. It is complicated because your male partner is a gambler. You fell in love with him because of his gambling qualities - daring recklessness, calculated risk-taker, emotional unpredictability, extraordinary lifestyle, and a glamorous image, among others. Now, you find that these very same qualities are negatively affecting your relationship.
How then do you keep the relationship going? You still love him and you still want to build a future with him. How do you keep your man and yet keep the gambler in him? Can you combine a stable emotional relationship in the uncertain gambling world? Of course, you can! It is difficult, yes, but definitely attainable with hard work and commitment from both you and your partner.
There are many relationship advice you can find in the print media and in online sources. However, the most important thing is to first acknowledge that you and your partner have unresolved issues that need your immediate and personal attention. Treat them as he would free bets - as soon as possible lest the free casino bets expire.
Acceptance is not defeat. It is simply a matter of recognizing a problem, accepting it as a problem, and finding ways to solve with the problem. You defeat the problem instead of the problem defeating you. You will notice that the term “problem” is used often here precisely because that is what compulsive gambling is. But it is a problem with a solution, so take heart.
The solution is usually a mix of medical and the personal treatments. You and your partner can consult with a psychiatrist specializing in the treatment of addictions. He will prescribe medicines to help your partner control the biological aspects of his gambling addiction. You can encourage him to join peer-support recovery groups like Gamblers Anonymous and help him adhere to the 12-step program.
On your part, be as supportive of his recovery battles as you possibly can. Keep your emotional sanity because he will need it now more than ever. Help him channel his destructive dependence on gambling into more constructive and creative uses.
Set realistic expectations. Just like the free poker bets he is so keen to use, you need to invest your time and effort before you can see results in a gambling recovery program. He certainly did not get all those free poker bets just by staring at his computer, right?
When he has been cured of his addiction, do not be surprised if he still wants to play online games. If he treats it as a recreational activity and does not succumb to another round of addiction, then it is probably alright. Just always be supportive and understanding of his needs. The fact that he went with your ideas is a sign that he is committed to making your relationship work despite the uncertainty of gambling.
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