Hi,
I'm new to GamCare and have registered for GamStop and blocked gambling transactions from my bank card as of today.
I used to gamble a fair amount, leaving myself short of money for the month, but I hadn't gambled at all for a few years.
However, over the past couple of days, I've fallen into old habits and spent around £300 - the majority of our monthly grocery shopping budget - on B*****d. I feel so, so guilty and I'm now unsure how we will last until the end of February with a massively reduced grocery budget.
I know this is my own fault; it's not an excuse, but I'm a long-term sufferer of depression, severe anxiety and panic attacks. I also suspect I may have ADHD, which may help to explain this 'random' yet impulsive behaviour of gambling this month.
I don't even really know why I suddenly relapsed into these old habits; this is something I haven't done for a long while and I'm so angry at myself. I know I'm now going to have sleepless nights about it, increased anxiety and panic attacks, all for what? A few hours of 'fun' (at the time) on some B*****d games.
I don't really know why I'm bothering to write this as my welcome intro... I suppose some of you will just hopefully understand; I needed to vent somewhere. I haven't told my partner about the impulse spending yet either; I'm usually the frugal, more financially responsible one out of the both of us and the breadwinner for the family, so I've now failed us and our 2 young children.
Hi Smallbear,
Welcome to the forum and well done for posting and registering GamStop and blocking gambling transactions through your bank.
These set backs happen on the road to recovery , the important thing is that you are acknowledging it and reaching out for support. There's hope and you can do this.
I hope you can find some healthy coping mechanisms for the depression, anxiety, panic attacks and possible ADHD and we would also encourage you to speak with your GP about this. Things like breathing techniques , exercise , mindfulness and mediation may also be of benefit for you at this time.
Please feel free to contact the GamCare Helpline on 0808 8020 133 or Netline to explore the additional support available to you. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week if you would like to talk to one of the GamCare HelpLine advisers.
All the best with your recovery.
Kirk
Forum admin.
Hi Smallbear,
Welcome to the forum and well done for posting and registering GamStop and blocking gambling transactions through your bank.
These set backs happen on the road to recovery , the important thing is that you are acknowledging it and reaching out for support. There's hope and you can do this.
I hope you can find some healthy coping mechanisms for the depression, anxiety, panic attacks and possible ADHD and we would also encourage you to speak with your GP about this. Things like breathing techniques , exercise , mindfulness and mediation may also be of benefit for you at this time.
Please feel free to contact the GamCare Helpline on 0808 8020 133 or Netline to explore the additional support available to you. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week if you would like to talk to one of the GamCare HelpLine advisers.
All the best with your recovery.
Kirk
Forum admin.
Do not beat yourself up, what's done is done, you have done well to stay gamble free for so long with all your problems, time to be ingenious with those food recipes, shepherd's pie or big pasta bakes that you can freeze etc, sure you will do it, I once lived a month on Pot Noodles, but I am not suggesting that with young kiddies involved
Good luck with your fight, January is a hard month for us all, you just probably needed an escape, but even though I often don't practice what I preach, here's hoping you can juggle your money and get back on track
All my best wishes LCS
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