My mother has a gambling problem, what should I do?

Question

Here's what I know from stealing her mail, I know it's wrong.

She has at least $30,000 on six credit cards that I know about.

My Dad knows, has tried to get her counselling for years, recently got her involuntarily admitted to a mental hospital for treatment for a week.

She does suffer from maniac depression or something like that, I'm not sure.

She doesn't care, doesn't want to help herself, believes she can gamble whatever she wants whenever she wants because it's her money.

She treats me like c**p. She yells at me and expects me to cook and clean for my brother and her because she's at work at two jobs.

I don't think it's fair, she only needs to work two jobs to repay her credit cards.

My family could easily get along with her working one, or a bit harder but still live, without her working at all.

I have given up, and my father and I are moving out.

I wish I had a mother, but as far as I am concerned, I don't.

Is there hope? Is anyone else in a simlar situation? Any advice? Best to just cut ties and get along with the rest of my life?

Thanks a lot guys.

Answer 1

your mom has to fess up to you and your dad and apologize for her bad addictive behavior, it's like drinking alcohol and smoking pot, it's a disease......once she admits her fault it's you and your fathers duty to forgive her 100% and don't make her feel bad about what she's done, tell her if she gambles one more penny you and your father will cut ties from her cause she is living a very destructive lifestyle, this is gonna sound like a long and tedious recovery from all the debt that was accumulated, i've seen people hundreds of thousands in debt cause i used to visit the casino every single day, i was 12,000 in debt now i'm living great knowing i lived a mistake in the past and now i'm a homeowner with no desire to gamble a single penny ever again, make a list of bills and now is a good time to start cause it's the beginning of the month, put the list down and just write down how much your family pays for the certain bill, pay off the higher interest ones first but always make the min payments cause you want to avoid late and overlimit fees, pay ALL bills and they will eventually reach ZERO

Answer 2

There is always hope.  Maybe your mother is board and she needs more excitement in her life than your father gives her.  If he would take her out more often to a dinner and a movie, a play or invite friends over to play games.  If they play bridge, invite someone over to play with them.  But get her something else to think about other than gambling.

There is a book out 21 steps to stop gambling System and Workbook - Author Gambling Recovery Specialist.

Good luck!

Answer 3

Gamblers Anonymous

Answer 4

call the gambler-help hotline..

you need it to help you and your mum!!