So today is the day I’ve finally had enough
I started gambling 9 years ago. I signed up to a bingo site and won a decent sum on my first try. I look back now and know that win was the hook for me. I thought I could do the same every month, and as I wasn’t paid too much from my job, thought it could be like an extra income. How stupid was I. 9 years later I’m 20k in debt, I have ruined my credit rating almost beyond repair. I have lied, I have had a mental breakdown, and yet I still don’t stop!Â
I have two children who luckily never go without, but the time I have spent pressing a button staring at a screen, is time I will never get back. I’m 40 next year and I just cannot go into my 40’s living like this. Every month I spend my wages within a day, I struggle month on month, and I haven’t felt happy in for god knows how long. I am on antidepressant for anxiety and the depression gambling has caused. I realise I will always be a gambling addict, but I know that I need to find the strength to stop actively gambling. I have registered with Gamstop as it’s only online that I gamble. I’m so angry at casino companies, but know I am that stupid fool keeping them in business. I don’t know how I’m going to find the strength, but I have to. My children deserve a Mum who isn’t a slave to a casino. I wish everyone on their journey so much luck and loveÂ
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One of my big reasons for stopping was I also turn 40 in March. I keep saying in my head, my life will begin at 40.. you do the same!! I was where you are now 64 days ago, so I’m really early into being GF too.. my story sounds familiar to yours with crazy debt. I banned myself too, and installed a calculator as an app to show how much I’d save by not gambling as an incentive to keep going. Try it, you can then look at that and think that’s money you haven’t given to a casino and money you can spend on your kids. Everyone on here will support you, you can do it, one minute, hour, day at a time. Good luck
Hey I know the feeling all too well. I am in the same boat, crazy debt that I will be paying until I am 44, then I will be debt free. I am only 3 weeks gamble free but 1 year into my payment plan. I first stopped gambling last year for 4 months and relapsed this year loosing £6700 this year nothing compared to the £57k lost last year but hopeful this relapse will be the last. We can do this! We can only continue to look forward and accept the consequences of our actions but life will be better again as long as we stay gamble free. I am 35 now and I would like to believe I still have time on my side to make things right. The saddest thing about this is I cannot afford to have kids til my debt is paid but by the time I’m 44, it would all be too late.Â
Hi - I am just starting to try and recover after nearly ten years of on and off gambling, and my story is very like yours. I hope you manage to recover swiftly.
Good luck x
I racked up around 70k worth of debt by 30. Then i went bankrupt and had a new lease of life. A couple of years later i started again. I have over the last 8 years stopped and started multiple times. Im here cos i need to work out a way to stop forever so this never happens again. I find i can do a few months then i forget the lows and then get sucked back in. The debt was too much for me when i chose that option it was that many mixtures of loans, cards, overdrafts and pay day loans it was rediculous to keep on top of. Im 42 now and need to get a grip im a woman that should be settled at my age and not an impulsive child like behaviour. Im actually sick of myself and my instability and want to be normal and not put myself through this stress.Â
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