7 days and counting

I have gambled since i was 14 playing on my dads poker account. Back then it was nothing. I turned 18, hit the bookies when the machines were like crack C*****e. I won just shy of £2000 just a couple of weeks after i was 18. Took it home, but i wanted more. Took 500 back out to the bookies and lost it. That should of been a sign i suppose. 

Fast forward 15 years, gambling every day. Horses, basketball, football. Anything that was available. My stakes on Skybet were approx 40k with 30k returns for the last 12 months What do i have to show for it. Nothing. 

It finally came to an end when over the last year my stakes have got higher and so have my losses. I had 3 credit cards with debt of 20k. My wife insisted we go for a mortgage within next few months. It was time to come clean. 

I broke the news to her and my parents that i had a gambling problem. I was depressed, anxious all the time, problems sleeping. In that moment it felt like a huge weight was lifted off my shoulders. 

I am one of the lucky ones. My parents wiped my credit card debts and i am paying them back monthly. I signed up to gamstop, installed gamban, going for counselling and my wife has control of my money. My brother had a problem 10 years ago and he told me he always  remembers 1 thing from his counselling. They talked about the fire triangle. You need 3 things to have a fire and if you take one away, there can't be. Same with gambling. Money, means and opportunity. If you take away one of those, you can't gamble. For me it is money. 

I am 7 days gamble free. Do i get urges? Sure. But it really isnt bothering me. I know i can't get on any websites so the opportunity isnt there. I actually have enjoyed watching the football this last week without having a bet on. 

Anyway, that is my story. If you got this far. Thank you for reading!