advice needed trying to make my first step

Hi zen123

Welcome to the forum and well done for recognising that you have a problem with gambling and seeking advice. You will find a lot of support here and a community of people who understand your struggle with gambling please keep reading and posting on the forum.

You talk about being in debt due to your gambling which is scary but tackling your finances is going to improve your life and help you to gain some control. if you are not sure how to do this or are feeling overwhelmed, you might find it helpful to contact the National Debtline on 0808 808 4000, or read the advice on their website http://www.nationaldebtline.org

You could also consider contacting Step Change which is a charity run organisation that can help with setting up a debt management plan on 0800 138 1111 website http://www.stepchange.org

I would encourage you to call our helpline and talk things through with a GamCare adviser on 0808 8020 133 or on our netline. The advisers can provide emotional support and helpful information as well as facilitate a referral to free one to one counselling appointments if you’d like to access that service. We are available everyday 8am until midnight.

Best wishes

Alex

Hi mate,

Im 34 and ive been gambling for 16 years... i hate it, stress, sleepless nights, etc. Ive havent gambled now for 14 days and im more determined to stop then ever.

I know its only 14 days but this what has worked for me.....

Open i book bank account where you have no cards or no internet banking and only keep the bare minimum in your normal current account. Knowing that you only have the abosulte minimum in your current account will make you think twice about taking that bet. So far this has worked for me!

Roulette machines are my problems so i also self excluded from betting shops in my area.

Hope this helps

Chris

Forum Admin wrote:

Hi zen123

Welcome to the forum and well done for recognising that you have a problem with gambling and seeking advice. You will find a lot of support here and a community of people who understand your struggle with gambling please keep reading and posting on the forum.

You talk about being in debt due to your gambling which is scary but tackling your finances is going to improve your life and help you to gain some control. if you are not sure how to do this or are feeling overwhelmed, you might find it helpful to contact the National Debtline on 0808 808 4000, or read the advice on their website http://www.nationaldebtline.org

You could also consider contacting Step Change which is a charity run organisation that can help with setting up a debt management plan on 0800 138 1111 website http://www.stepchange.org

I would encourage you to call our helpline and talk things through with a GamCare adviser on 0808 8020 133 or on our netline. The advisers can provide emotional support and helpful information as well as facilitate a referral to free one to one counselling appointments if you’d like to access that service. We are available everyday 8am until midnight.

Best wishes

Alex

You could consider attending a group meeting such as Gamblers Anonymous?

thanks everyone, and thanks chris, i am in a large overdraft in my bank will i still be able to get one of these i book bank accounts? i also hate the stress and sleepness nights it drains me so bad. i feel so emotional at times, i have always gambled since 16 but its since january this year i have accumulated this 25k debt. i hate the thought of people thinking im attention seeking; even though nobody has said this. speaking to older gamblers makes me feel better and i dont mean to be disrespectful, but it makes me realize it will not get any better carrying on gambling, which is a big help for me to stop.

thanks everyone, and thanks chris, i am in a large overdraft in my bank will i still be able to get one of these i book bank accounts? i also hate the stress and sleepness nights it drains me so bad. i feel so emotional at times, i have always gambled since 16 but its since january this year i have accumulated this 25k debt. i hate the thought of people thinking im attention seeking; even though nobody has said this. speaking to older gamblers makes me feel better and i dont mean to be disrespectful, but it makes me realize it will not get any better carrying on gambling, which is a big help for me to stop.

thanks everyone, and thanks chris, i am in a large overdraft in my bank will i still be able to get one of these i book bank accounts? i also hate the stress and sleepness nights it drains me so bad. i feel so emotional at times, i have always gambled since 16 but its since january this year i have accumulated this 25k debt. i hate the thought of people thinking im attention seeking; even though nobody has said this. speaking to older gamblers makes me feel better and i dont mean to be disrespectful, but it makes me realize it will not get any better carrying on gambling, which is a big help for me to stop.

Hi Zen, I'm also a little surprised that Admin did not suggest a GA group! To be honest, most of what I have read on the subject, although it leads to horrendous debts, gambling has often very little to do with money...Why do you gamble? Are you stressed or anxious? For most people, gambling is an escape from reality!

The way to beat this is to be honest with your loved ones & get help from anywhere & everywhere you can! We cannot win because we cannot stop & you definitely do not want to make the same mistakes I made! £25,000 plus more to friends & family is a drop in the ocean compared to what you could lose if you don't figure this out now!

Breaking your gambling triangle (Time-Money-Location, remove one & it makes it impossible to gamble) will help with the money side of business but preventing yourself gambling is only a small part of recovery! How do you gamble? If it's online, there is blocking software available (K9) is free but Gamcare can point you towards others. If it's in shops, get yourself some passport photos & self exclude!

Well done for realising so young that you need to get help & welcome to the site 🙂 If you're planning on sticking around, it may be worth starting a recovery diary to track your progress & vent on!

You will find life a lot less stressful if you give recovery the attention you have given gambling - ODAAT

Hi zen123,

the bank should give you a book account as your not asking for any Credit from them. I use Santander so they should be able to help you.

When's the last time you gambled? Take each day as it comes..... I also try and keep myself entertained/busy, Iv even started doing housework which I never usually do :-).

chris london wrote:

Hi mate, well done 14 days would be a lifetime for me can you tell me how you overcome urges please

Im 34 and ive been gambling for 16 years... i hate it, stress, sleepless nights, etc. Ive havent gambled now for 14 days and im more determined to stop then ever.

I know its only 14 days but this what has worked for me.....

Open i book bank account where you have no cards or no internet banking and only keep the bare minimum in your normal current account. Knowing that you only have the abosulte minimum in your current account will make you think twice about taking that bet. So far this has worked for me!

Roulette machines are my problems so i also self excluded from betting shops in my area.

Hope this helps

Chris

thank you so much ODAAT, i gamble online and i would say i am stressed most of the time but because of the debt. i feel it is about money with me gambling, but i do also like the feeling. i cant see why i would want escape reality becasue i have a great family and friends and i am happy with my life, apart from gambling and he debt it has brought. i gambled yesterday and im very dispointed because i signed up on here and was sure i would stop, the day before yesterday.

Hi Zen, just signing up isn't a miracle cure I'm afraid...If stopping was easy, none of us would be here! I gambled to get rich so I could gamble more, I loved gambling but somewhere along the line, my outgoings from gambling loans etc added to my bills became more than I was earning! So much for that brilliant plan 🙁 Then the real chasing started until someone died & I had enough to get straight but carried on, or I remortgaged & I had enough to get straight but carried on or I downsized & had enough to get straight, you know the rest...We cannot win because we cannot stop!

Sometimes, when we look @ what we have & know how lucky we are, it makes us feel rubbish...'Why am I so miserable when I have such a great life?' Thing is, what of your life is real? If you fear telling people for losing them then I would guess you live in fear of them finding out so is it really your life you are living or a big fat lie? You don't have to sit them all down for a big announcement, pick someone who you think is strong enough not to judge & ask for help! There are lots of very strong, independent people on this site who have had to swallow their pride & have help...There's no shame in being in recovery that can compare to the hurt of gambling!

Maybe worth having a read of Mr Brightside's exit post on the 2014 challenge when you get a chance! Don't throw away your life like you are now! Buckle up & start working on a happier future - ODAAT

I'm making my first step today too, v.helpful info from posts. 1 day at a time.