Hi Babsie
Success stories are what gives everybody hope so maybe I can give you that hope.
The Friends and Family forum is a steppingstone; members use it to take them to a better place; a place where they can move on with their lives, leaving their sad experiences behind them, hence the lack of visible success posts that are current.
I have been facilitating here for 13 years and I have heard and seen many successes both with F&F and gamblers, if it was not so I would not be here. It is understandable that few F&F members want to come back once they have moved on. Remembering a bad experience is fine, provided it is being used for ‘reference only’ but there is no need to return to the shadow of a gambling addiction once you have moved into the light.
Slips and relapses are not compulsory, they do not have to be part of recovery but with Covid 19 making lives more difficult, I think you are probably right that your husband has used the gamble to escape because he had become complacent.
Is your husband aware of the slippery slope he was on, has he expressed any disappointment in himself? I don’t believe in fudging issues, so I admit that the fact he is up 4K, is worrying. To me a so-called ‘win’ like this is a ‘loss’ to a gambler with a problem and I hope he gets support soon and gets this money into perspective.
Your husband didn’t think that GA was for him but would he consider this site. Your husband would be very welcome and understood in our ‘Gambler Only’ groups; they are facilitated by Charles who is a fantastic success story. Everything your husband is feeling will be understood. My argument would be that it has to be worth a try because he would have nothing to lose by joining but possibly everything to gain.
It would be great to ‘meet’ you in the F&F group, there is one this evening, Tuesday and another on Thursday. Nothing said in the group appears on the forum. It is good to talk in real time, you will be very welcome.
Velvet