Dear Moneyist, I’ve gotten to a point where I need serious help for my gambling addiction, though I’m not at rock bottom yet. I am a journeyman-level employee with about 20 years’ experience at my current job. I am married with one child in a state with a very high cost of living. My spouse has been a stay-at-home parent ever since our child was born, so we are also a single-income family.
My salary is in the low six figures, but I also receive supplemental monthly income for being a disabled veteran. We, as a family, tend to live beyond our means, but I amplify that with my secret addiction. I have maxed out all the cash advances on my credit cards, and between those cash advances and lifestyle purchases, I have racked up close to $100,000 in debt. I have a home-equity line of credit on our house, and I have taken out and lost another $10,000 from that. I have the overwhelming urge to take out another $7,000 to $8,000 to make it all back and deposit $20,000 into the account. Just typing this makes me realize how desperate and stupid this sounds. I a …