Getting it off my chest

Hi Ben,

Welcome to the Forum and well done for opening up here as a first step. As you said it, gambling now it’s not only a problem but also a secret and that hurts you the most.

It sounds like having someone else to manage your money really helped you for a year. However, you didn’t address the problem itself during that time and therefore, the need to gamble never went away. This strategy can be very effective but only for a period of time and while you are getting help. Eventually, you should be able to start managing your money again without the same risk of returning to gambling.

However, it is a pity that although you opened up to your family and received their support you now have to hide it from them. It is really the same problem and promising never to gamble again was not realistic in the first place.

It’s great that you are here even though you are not in debt or some sort of crisis but the pressure is building up as it could very easily get to that point, as you can appreciate.

I would encourage you to get in touch with GamCare and organise some counselling or just have an initial conversation with an advisor who can take you through some helpful steps.

Giving up gambling may require on-going effort and support and that is available so, there is no need to deal with it on your own.

Best wishes,

Forum Admin

Hi Ben

I can relate to a lot of points in your story as similar to mine but I never asked for help and was found out 3 times, but like you I swore on my kids life that I would never gamble again after getting back with my wife lastime and now she doesn't believe a single word that comes out of my mouth and who can blame her !

Like admin have said promising never to gamble again was unrealistic in the first place as I now know !

All the Best

Darren