Admitting I need help.

Hello Kyle the first thing is you've admitted you have a problem well done,

I'm 24 too been gambling on and off for 7 years my advice to you is to talk to someone try getting them to understand if you keep this to yourself specially having a lot of people around you you won't get no where maybe you can but trust me tell your parents they can help you !

Maybe get someone close to you to look after your money get blocks put on the internet self exclude from everywhere do everything you can to avoid to gamble

you've come to the right place trust me not all of us have kept gamble free but it is what it is you have to put in work this won't go away it's self keep posting best way is to get it off your chest and talk to people who understand you!!

Hey Kyle, welcome to the forum 🙂

This is certainly as good a place to start as any and for what it's worth, it's not a sign of weakness to admit you can't do it alone, very few people can.

Sounds like you never really dealt with why you gambled & went straight back to it when your girlfriend left which would suggest as much as the rest of your post that you gamble to escape.

I would recommend counselling through the website and/or getting yourself straight to a GA meeting where you will meet people who can offer advice as well as real life support.

Seeing as you are going to tell your parents (nice one), it would be wise to go to them this time with a plan of how you are going to help yourself (as above) & ask (beg if you have to) for their help putting up effective barriers. They can do practical things like set passwords for you when you download blocking software (K9 is free but the helpline will be able to advise you on other products) & maybe handle your finances for a while if they are willing? If your poison is online, you can downgrade your bank account to one that does not support online activity (Deano has a thread on one offered by Barclays). Have a read round the forum, you're not alone.

This can be dealt with - ODAAT

Hi Kyle, I won't say much as I'm still in shock after a big relapse over the New Year but I want to give you my best wishes for telling your parents. I'm 39 and a mother of 2 but just yesterday I had to come clean to my mother fur the 2nd time and my father the 1st. It had to be done due to my dire circumstances but also because I truly do want to stop. My mother will monitor finances closely, taking my debit card and I'll be giving her a weekly paper bank statement. I feel like the lowest of the low and I'm very disappointed in myself with the lies I have told over the last 18 months and the person I have become. I have the fact it's only been 18 months in total in my favour and I'm ready to accept help now. You are very young and with determination you can beat this and move forward to a happier life. Please ring Gamcare and they will help you set up preventative measures. I wish you well today, I was feeling exactly the same yesterday but coming clean makes things seem just that little better today.

Thanks for all the replys..

i went to my parents today and spoke briefly about my problem, i told them i need help and asked them to put up barriers to help me stop, i handed over my bank card and also all the cash in my wallet. i didn't even last the day. i already played poker without even thinking i had my details saved onto my pokerstars account just needed my three digit pin... this is so hard.

I think the next step is to give my computer to my brother, i can't have this around me as its a Huge motivation tool to play. im also going to have to re speak to them again and ask to have them put on my account as someone who can take full control and put a security question on depositing online.

i really do want to break this addiction.. i'm sorry that ive already shown signs of weakness.

That's the nature of this addiction Kyle, you don't need to apologise, it's you that you're hurting! You can't change what has already happened so learn from it as it looks like you are.

I would suggest you exclude from the account & get that registered card cancelled, when the new one comes through, get your parents to look @ the CVV number so they know it then scratch it off so you don't!

If the blocking software is not an option, what about seeing if your network provider can block your access? It's hard to live in a modern world without technology but if that's what it takes for a while, it's great that you are willing to do that!

May be worth giving your parents the telephone number for the helpline...They may be just as confused as you are feeling & may find the professionals can answer their questions with a bit more clarity.

No-one said it was easy but you told them & you are here & fighting, that shows strength! Keep putting it to good use - ODAAT