Why do you think you gamble?

My gambling went up significantly or at least the amounts didwhen my partner moved In. I’d lived alone for a few years and managed, then I got this extra few hundred quid a month I gambled the first month and won, then you know the rest. I’m trying not to think about the past but if I’d have lived the same way as when I lived alone I could have banked 90% of that extra money without touching it.

What does strike me on here is the amount of very high earners, I guess it’s like a lot footballers who bet the more they have the more they want? This is a good thing also though, if you have a decent wage once you stop every payday will be a massive win. Sorry to go OT a bit there.

This is a good question that I've given quite a lot of thought over recently as I try to tackle my gambling addiction.

I always thought I gambled through habit but I actually think it's to relieve anxiety and worry. Even though it's led to me feeling the worst sense of fear and dread I've ever had after my recent devastation.

In the past if I had something on my mind, however serious or trivial a gambling fix would shake me out of it. If I lost it would give me something else to focus on and rationalize with how to overcome the stupid losses or if I won I'd feel content and cheerful that I've some free money burning a hole to be used or whatever.

This realisation has come out as I'm 3 weeks in to being gambling free and the initial feelings of being dead set against ever gambling again subside. This is now being replaced with fear that without the opportunity to potentially win again, I've no longer the opportunity for this much needed boost of money and energy. It's a peculiar mindset but as I try to deal with the fall out of losing £10k in less than 10 minutes and being financially screwed for the foreseeable future it's hard to think about anything other than not having any money and feeling low.

Thankfully I've got my first GA meeting tomorrow night and I'm awaiting a call back about being referred on for some one to one counselling.

I'm not ever going back to my old ways, but my life feels very strange and scary without gambling.

I’ve joined GamCare today despite stopping all my betting accounts today I still went and placed £20 at abetting shop and I’m struggling to be able to want to stop betting on football when I’m planning on watching the game.the issues I’ve had with gambling is that I still enjoy placing a bet and do enjoy an in play bet as it’s an added incentive to watch the game I always placed bets on goal scorers between £15-20 on each game n I felt like if he didn’t score first he will score the next n keep chasing my losses on the games following its an expensive habit I just want to break but I’m unsure of what to do to stop myself or how to get past watching a game and seeing a bet I would of placed come in. Any suggestions or experiences similar?

Boredom, depression and to feel something... Something more than what my perceived 'mundane' life was offering me at the time. Those were my reasons.

Now life is very much the same... Just more enjoyable and fulfilling. Must be the gratitude I have come to nurture after pressing the self-destruction button through gambling and hitting rock bottom. I had a choice... Either sit and remain at rock bottom or get up and start climbing. It's taken this horrific and bloody battle with gambling (which I lost) for me to realise that in fact my life was good... If only I had embraced what was good in it in the first place and was grateful at the time. All the s**t I embraced before was breeding selfishness, thoughtlessness and self-importance, gambling being the main fuel in that fire. Gambling had me licked... Licked, deluded and completely brainwashed.

The monetary gain was far down the list for me. However if I were to gamble again (which I do not intend to of course) it would be far more prominent in that list now due to the gambling debt I now find myself in. As many people have stated... The pull of addiction is its ability to lure you back in to give you back what it took from you in the first place. In our case money.

I first gambled as a way to try and escape from feelings of sadness about a relationship breakup.

I have had anorexia for most of my life and was receiving treatment. I no longer had the crutch starvation gave me and then I found gambling. It had the same affect anorexia had. Helped me avoid my emotions and real problems. I wish I never started. At first it seemed harmless and helped but then I got sucked in and I’m trying to get out now

I gamble because, in addition to being enjoyable, it pays well. The difficulties and anxieties of my everyday life can be avoided through gaming. It works really well for helping me forget some of my personal issues.

My reasons were multiple. First been learned behaviour from a dad who took me gambling on tracks and arcades from as early as I can remember. And then I had a period of not gambling while I was in the military. I just didn't have the desire or time to go to the bookies.

Then I changed jobs, got married and had children, I became selfish and wanted some time out of the house. Trips to the bookies met the need, this became more frequent. Just a few quid here and there. When my wife became terminally sick with cancer, the escape trips grew in intensity and cost. I began gambling heavily, losing a massive amount monthly. She died and I began gambling for 16 hours a day, incurring enormous debt. It was all just an escape, one that almost ruined me. Then a moment of clarity on September 7th 2011. The penny dropped and I realised that the game was over, I no longer needed to escape and stopped on that day. Best decision of my life.

Good morning

I wanted to congratulate you, on writing such a detailed and eloquent post, with such clarity and meaning . It is a very honest, reflective entry - thank you for sharing your challenges, which will relate to so many others.

Trauma, or extreme difficulties experienced at such a young, age - can have catastrophic repercussions later on in life, causing one to turn to unhealthy behaviours; sadly this is all too common - looking and searching for a coping mechanism, to escape our inner vulnerabilities is a coping mechanism.

I am so pleased, that your recovery is a positive one, I am hearing that there is a strong commitment which involves discipline; recovery is exactly that!

Your recovery principles, with Peers across the pond is remarkable.

The fruits of your labour has catapulted you, into some enlightening experiences, and you should feel immensely empowered.

How positive that you can support others, facing gambling harm dilemma's in such a meaningful way.

Thank you for posting.

Forum Admin.

I think that gambling for me is sort of thing that brings me joy. It is not a case that i need money really, i don't care about them. I just like the process of gambling. Don't know why really

Hi.

My main reason for gambling was purely to try to earn more money.  How ironic when over 15 years, I have managed to amass over 30k of debt!!

”ENOUGH IS NOW ENOUGH” 💪

Pink Lady. 🩷🍎.

Gambling started after personal grief. losing my child sent me into a spiral of not just caring about anything or anyone. I couldn't find any happiness and felt I didn't deserve it either. Whilst off work I found a bookies and tried the slots and the rest is history. I realised it was the only time I could 'clear' my mind, in a trance like state just spinning and spinning. This then led to using apps and trying sports bets. I have an addictive personality which I feel does contribute to my need to recklessly keep going even when I know deep down I've gone too far. Suffered with substance abuse which I have nearly over come but I've replaced it with heavier gambling... I'm hoping I'm strong enough to believe there is light at the end of the tunnel. 

I wish everyone a healthy recovery