I won’t sugar coat it for you because it’s going to be tough. In fact, your battle against this addiction will be the single most difficult battle you’ll ever face. It is a battle you can win. But it’s a long term one. There is no quick fix. You need to be patient. We gamblers are very impatient and we want an immediate resolution to all our problems. That’s why we gamble…we want that immediate fix to our finances, to recoup all our losses and take away all our negative emotions. Here’s what you must realise – you will never win your losses back through gambling, if you gamble more you’ll just lose more. You can get your losses back by working hard and saving like you’ve done in the past. I know it’s cliche but time will help reduce your feelings of anguish, regret and self-torment. The longer you can go without gambling, the healthier your state of mind will become and the higher chance you have of regaining the trust of those closest to you. Use the memories of your losses as a motivator to never go back to that place again. As a lesson you’ll never forget.
Just remember this. You mentioned that you are not at a point of financial emergency. You still have your wife and kid at the moment (and sounds like a place to live). You are nowhere near rock bottom. Just think about that for a moment the next time you feel an urge to gamble. How much more can you afford to lose?