How to deal with your gambling addict dad?

This gambling addiction has turned him into a monster.

It affected my career, I dropped out of university. It's affecting our destiny, we're in dept. He beats my mother. His little dirty hobby is standing in the way of all our dreams and ambitions.

I haven't talked to him for a year now,although we live in the same house. I feel he's a stranger. Am I being wrong in not talking to him?How to deal with your gambling addict dad?
Hi there. My dad wasn't a gambler, but he was an alcoholic, and he did to my family pretty much what your dad is doing to yours. You cannot change him, he's the only one who can do that.



By dropping out of university you're allowing him to maintain power over your destiny. My advice to you is to move out, take out loans to cover your expenses, and graduate from school. Your mother is an adult, and is choosing to stay with her abuser. You can't change that either. The only thing *you* can control is what you do. You can't stop the gambling or make your mom leave, but you *can* call the cops when your dad hits your mom. He can't beat her from jail.



As far as not speaking goes--you do what you need to do. As harsh as this sounds, he probably doesn't care one way or the other, because he's too involved in his addiction to care about anybody but himself. The only way that will change is if *he* chooses to stop gambling, stop being abusive, and get professional help.



Looking back, I wish I had called the cops the night my dad hit my mom, or the night he broke down my bedroom door and threatened to beat me to death for asking him to stop stepping on the Christmas lights, but I was a little kid then, and I was too scared. I was also brain-washed into believing that no one would believe me, which is total BS.



Please don't be helpless, because you aren't. Do what's in your power to do, and please do what you need to do to take care of yourself.



Best of luck...How to deal with your gambling addict dad?
when hes in a good mood encourage him to find help through the gambling group
Your father needs help. Whether or not he's willing to accept help is another matter.

Call here for more information: http://www.gamblersanonymous.org/mtgdirT鈥?/a>
Cut him totally out of your thoughts -- he's a waste of space.



Get a life!
You could try talking to him but I doubt if he will listen to your concerns. I think you have to work on your mother to get help for the abuse and to realize she does not have to put up with this and it is not her fault and he will never change, she is the one who has to change take responsibility and save the family. If things get really bad I advise you to call the police. As far as his gambling he has to see for himself it is a problem and seek help. You might even consider talking to a lawyer they may have a solution as to how you can force him to get help or stop putting the family in debt. Good luck
Your father needs an ';intervention,'; in much the same way interventions are done with drug addicts. Gather your family and talk to him as a group -- really let him know how his addiction is affecting your family and how you feel about him. Make an appointment with an addictions councilor specializing in gambling and INSIST he go if he wants to remain a part of the family. While he's getting treatment, contact a financial counseling agency that can help get your family out of debt.



And -- most importantly -- pray to God that your father be healed. Involve his pastor, if he has one; if he doesn't have one, find one for him.



I will pray for the healing of your family.
Why are you asking within the R%26amp;S section? Isn't this a serious problem? Consult an intervention specialist. You should have a number for a helpline in your phone book.



But if you're asking in R%26amp;S, ';Pray to the magic sky daddy, of course!'; Don't try to look at reality to fix your problems. Instead, talk to your imaginary friend.