Partners in dependency - Relatives often try to "understand" the addict and help him, by paying off his debts, while accepting his promise to stop gambling, a promise he is unable to keep. More than once, family members come to the aid process, becoming partners so that they become “addicted” to the therapeutic process. But help works in exactly the opposite direction instead of helping the gambler wean off, they perpetuate his condition. These partners, such as parents or spouses, may find themselves in great distress that requires treatment.
There is a limit to which friends and family can help an addict. It’s just like trying to save a drowning man; you’ve got to be careful so as to not get drowned yourself.
Someone that’s not an addict that makes a promise and fails to keep that promise over and over would have a hard time getting people to believe him anymore. Then an addict that makes a promise repeatedly and doesn’t keep it, he’ll never be believed.
Someone with an addiction is going to lose everyone that’s close to him. Everyone has issues of their own and wouldn’t want to get drawn into your bullshit anymore than they have to.