Am I doing the right thing?

Hello, I have been gambling for years and it's a horrid cycle. I have put myself in so much debt from it. 

I started the same on free spins and it esculated from there. I was too stubborn to admit I had a problem but was found out through the Web of lies I told to continue. 

Being found out was the best thing that has happened to me. I hate myself for all the lies and hurt I have caused people but it has made me see how bad gambling is. I am lucky my partner recognises its an illness and is supporting me through it. If I didn't have her I would be gambling still. 

You are amazing for standing by him and it will help him in recovery. You have to know it becomes an addiction and has no control. There are plenty of ways to block using gambling sites ect. 

I know I am determined to make up for my hurt and I'm sure your partner will want the same. 

Good luck

You are doing the right thing. It's so hard to end the gambling cycle. You are in control of the finances you know they are being paid. The only thing you can do is support. I'm a gambler of many years it's a struggle and I don't think I could of broke the cycle without my husband and the support on here. Take one day at a time, your amazing ? x 

Hi, your post could have been written by my wife when she found out about my gambling. It was both the worst day ever and the best as once I was found out there was no reason to gamble again chasing the losses stupidly hoping for the big win to replace everything i had lost before being found out.

My wife, like you, immediatly took over all our finances, changing log in details and passwords to our accounts and cancelling both my credit and debit cards . She also contacted our Bank to put a block on gambling transactions from her own cards in case I was tempted to try and use them.

For my part I signed up for some counselling through Gamcare which was a great help, put a blocker on my phone called Betblocker and signed up to Gamstop for the maximum of 5 years. These prevent me from accessing any gambling websites if the urge surfaces.

From what you say your partner is glad you found out and wants to stop which is good. My wife of 32 years stood by me and gradually we have rebuilt our relationship. As Chris85 says, my wife looked at it as an illness I was slowly recovering from and I know if I did relapse that would be the end of our marriage so even more insentive to stay gamble free.

The support from my wife and close family and the determination to never go back there means I am now 2 years gamble free and life is so much better. My wife still has full control of our finances, I only have a credit card for buying things as you cannot gamble now with credit cards. Some people may say I could draw money out and use that which is true but this works for us.

The main thing for you and your partner is to talk about your feelings and not bottle things up. You will get through this if he has the determination to succeed. There is no right or wrong way to go, just do whats best for you.

All the best