Hi. i'm marc and im new. Been gambling on and off for about 10 years or so but recently things have got out of control. lost 5k in the last few days. Reading some of the other stories I sort of feel lucky in a way that I haven't yet lost everything and have only been gambling spare cash from wageslips each month (apart from 2009 when i lost 5k from a loan i took out and gambled). I gamble on sports betting (football) and whenever I see a game i fancy I'll get this massive urge to place a bet and can't control myself. Feel like i've been going round in circles for the past 10 years, gamble , lose eventually or straight away, beat myself up over it, tell myself who im letting down, family etc, then go a few weeks without gambling or until the next payday and gamble again. As everyone knows it affects your whole life, your relationship with girlfriend, family, work collegues, you can go into work after losing a shitload of cash the night before with no motivation and wanting a big hole to just swallow you up it's horrid. sometimes even before a bet i will go through things like , can you really afford to lose this amount of money? do you really need the extra cash your going to win? how s**t will you feel if you lose it ? and sometimes it puts me off but eventually i will gamble again. It's horrid and can easily see this swallowing me and losing everything if i don't put a stop to it now.
Hi Marc,
Nice honest opening post. I know this as I can relate to so much of it. For you to stop gambling, you've got to want to stop gambling. 99% of us CGs just can't wake up one morning and say that's it. You can read my story/diary if you wish. I hit rock bottom, something I've never felt before, luckily I hadn't lost everything but damage has been done that's going to take 4-5 years to sort out. Nether the less, it doesn't matter how much we lose, the amount of debt we may have acquired its facing up to this terrible addiction and changing our everyday life's to help conquer it. You cannot do it alone, the temptation of knowing that no-one will know if you have one more flutter is too great. For this simple reason attending weekly GA meetings are somewhere to listen and discuss the highs and lows of this recovery. Putting someone else in charge of your finances is a great start too.
If you have any question for me again ask on my diary page.
Wishing you all the best in owning up to your addiction and facing the road to recovery.
Thanks shep. I will defo read your diary, i've self excluded myself from all the websites I have accounts with and plan on getting rid of my debit cards for a cashcard with £100 limit withdrawal per day. My girlfriend knows and one of my closest mates. It is a weight off your mind when you can talk about it. It's sickening to thing what I could have done with that amount of money. Will be on here everyday from now on reading stories which I hope will stop me gambling.
Hi,
Nice one, you've set the foundations. I know telling loved ones is the easy part making them understand the minds of a gambler is very hard. But just having someone there to talk to is worth every word.
I agree it's "sickening to think what you could have done with the money." I agree, but put all that behind you that money is lost, the future is now recovery and paying back these loses is part of it. This money was lost in your past, you are now planning your future.
Good luck. Will read your updates.
Hello marc86
Welcome to the forum.
Its a positive step to self exclude and to let people know who you are close to so they can support you. If you would like further support in stopping gambling there is also counselling available with gamcare. If you would like to know where your nearest service is the gamcare have a helpline open 8am -midnight. Advisors will be able to give you more information about this if you want to call the helpline the number is 08 08 80 20 133 you can also contact advisors through the net line http://www.gamcare.org.uk/support-and-counselling/frontline-services/netline
Keep posting marc86 we are here to support you
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