And The Cycle Returns

Hi Jimmy 

Please don’t feel guilty. Compulsive gambling is a powerful addiction to break. My partner is a gambling addict. I recently found out, and he’s gambled 25k away in 2 weeks on the horses and football. 

I think the best thing you can do is be honest with family and friends about your gambling problem, so then you can’t use them as a way to bet when you’ve already put restrictions in place. The hardest part I think is 1) admitting you have a problem and 2) admitting it to other people. 

My boyfriend was in denial with himself but also was in denial in ever telling me. But this is a hard habit to break on your own and you will really need the support from those closest to you to keep you accountable and help to put blocks in place. We can’t do everything alone 

You're not alone. We've been there and know the misery and anguish. The light at the end of the tunnel is that there is always hope. It's never too late to change paths and rebuild a life without gambling. I hope you will find recovery methods that will work for you. Wishing you all the best. My life is much better now since I put financial controls in place and I no longer live in a fantasy world of getting that 'big win'. 

Hi Jimmy

I can relate to what you say, some where in your soul you have to get it back, gambling and bookmakers takes it and doesn’t care one bit about you, addiction alters a part of the brain after doing it compulsively as the years go by, you have to every possible measure in place including involving family or friends to gamble for you,professional addiction counselling is something I advise you to take, it’s helped me,try and exercise keep yourself as busy as possible and do anything but fall back in to the cycle and the pain it always brings, it will always put you on your a**e so to speak it did for me , I’m in recovery and being in my forties and having placed bets over a twenty five year period I have put the red stop button firmly planted in my head,nearly lost my home and family, marriage  after relapsing , is it all really worth it ? Surrender to it  and try and look forward to being a non gambler,change your lifestyle,As a compulsive gambler it’s impossible to win and have money sat as you always end up back to zero , chasing losing winning is destructive to your mental health and well-being, will take time mate lots of it but the one day at a time saying is true, I wish you well and hope you can get on to the recovery of not gambling ever again.

Also I get and understand how difficult it is to tell your family but in my experience it is always best to get it out in to the open and tell your wife in my experience 

Hello Jimmy and welcome 

You are in the right place for trusted information and advice.

Your brother and all the loved ones in your life need to know. You may not realise yet how much you have to reach out and banish the secrets of what you have been doing 

It's more than standard blocks ..it's a born again moment when you realise you are a gambling addict and gambling can do you nothing but harm!

The money has gone but you are still with us to see another day.

I will be blunt .....gambling addiction kills people.....it bankrupts them makes them homeless.destroys relationships and completely isolates them.

Leave it alone...it's not for you or anyone really.....it's NOT a get it back later scheme or an income scheme 

It's a dangerous vice and it's all set against you ...the risk is with you.  The gambling dens are not risking their family spending money but you are. 

Reach out for help....there is no shame in admitting you are one of countless people they duped and hooked.....it's a drug addiction and you will learn more about how complex it is 

Stop now.....tell your parents and your brother.....your partner......get your money protected for you have cold turkey to do on a full recovery journey 

Best wishes from everyone on the forum