Of course, there are many indirect victims of gambling addiction. Can you add more?
The suffering of gamblers' relatives is a difficult topic that often goes unnoticed. Relatives often experience anxiety, fear and disappointment when they see their loved ones getting lost in the world of excitement.
However, the family plays a key role in supporting the addicted gambler. It is important to listen and understand the causes of his problem, discuss possible steps to recovery and provide emotional support. Specialist help, family therapy, and support for social groups can also be helpful. It is important to remember that family support and understanding can be the basis for successfully overcoming gambling addiction.
You are right and I completely agree with you, personally, I would say that relatives and those very close to a gambling addict most of the times be the ones at the receiving end, like you said, they experience alot of shame, regrets and as well as disappointments, all because they are the ones who are always at the receiving end when ever their brother or sister who is addicted to gambling goes out and misbehaves, or causes problems that will warrant the family coming out to bail him or her.
I remember something that happens some previous years ago, where a guy was always gambling with all the money he has, including that of this wife when ever he finds out where the wife kept her money, this dude will take the money and gamble it all away.
The wife was always facing ridicle from her business associates whom she borrowed money from for her business, but could not be able to pay back because her husband saw the money where she kept and took it and gambled it all away.
She was insulted, disgraced, fought with, disappointed and she also lost most of her good friends, at the end, she couldn't take it anymore, she had to quit and leave the marriage, cus all her effort to help the man proved abortive.
So, in the nutshell, I would say that, most gambling addicts don't actually know what they put people around them though, most especially family members and good friends.