Happy Christmas everyone. Just looking for advice . After years of a crippling gambling addiction I’m trying to move on in 2023. I have a great job now and settled accommodation where I was under threat of homelessness previously. I still have significant debt and I’ve been advised to consider a DRO to start afresh. This may well be the best thing to do as my credit rating is already appalling. Any advice would be most welcome. Cheers and good luck with this addiction
Hi.
You have chosen well my friend. This addiction has destroyed you to almost being homeless and with significant debt. It did same thing to me and even more. At my worst I was in a place I could say was very similar to hell. Whenever I have an urge to gamble I think to myself that there is no safe amount of money to bet. I am thinking if I slip once I will fall down to the very rock bottom that I scrambled myself out of 2 months ago and probably even deeper. Be grateful that you are alive and well and cherish every day gamble-free. You and me we finally have control in our life. We can actually help and love ourselves. We can be good to ourselves and other. If I would place any bet right now I believe I would lose control and probably wake up weeks, months or years later with all this time wasted, new loans, lost loved ones and being homeless or within real possibility of being homeless. I will not go back to that hell and you shouldnt. There is no safe amount to bet. Our neurological wiring has been changed and we will be addicts forever.
I have a debt that will take me 2 years to pay if I actually save every penny I can. This is my payment for the biggest lesson I learned in my life. Financial worries can be crushing, but what matters is what you can do with that time while paying debt. Can you become a better version of yourself and heal from this disease while paying the debt? If you can do this then the time and work paying the debt wont be wasted. You will come out of this debt within some time an even stronger, healthier and happier person you ever been.
I wish you all the luck in the world. Sending you my warmest hug. Stay strong and have a nice Christmas.
M
I would recommend speaking to Stepchange the debt charity. I have a debt repayment plan with them paying only what I can afford each month, they are really helpful and have taken the pressure off trying to keep up with payments on my credit card debt. There are no costs involved setting this up
Hi cj1974,
I'm not saying don't do it, but be aware of the impact long term. Even if you recover, chances are you'll never get a mortgage, car finance , bank loan. All I can suggest is seek professional help before making your decision. Maybe being denied all these things is a good thing for a CG, everyone's situation is different ( unique ). Just keep all your options open. seek professional help. Sometimes what looks like a quick fix can become a long term nightmare.
Best Wishes
AL
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