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Hi Garydav5

I am a recovering CG.

One of the reasons that so many of us are here on this forum or attending GA is the fact that we could not accept the losses. We were always chasing.

I have come to accept that what I gambled away, I will never get back, I accept that as a fact, and I am content with that fact. I am in debt, but I am happy with my life. I know that I can do everything that other people can do in life, except for one thing. I can never have another bet.

I got to this stage by asking for help. Thru GA and counselling I have been able to turn my life around, You can too, if you want to.

Get yourself to a GA meeting and/or counsellor. They are the people who can help you.

Tell your partner of your problem, any debts that you have. Can your partner take control of your finances for a period? Limit your access to money, or if you gamble online, get some blocking software.

There are a lot of things that can be put in place to help you. It will all come down to this question though.....Do you really want to stop gambling?

Best wishes

Hi Gary, paul here, i think we are very similar in our approach to gambling, we both wanted to win a lot to give us a nest egg for the future (saw it as an easy way to make money - what it is, is a really easy way to lose money). I like you am on here after a major loss again. I know how you are feeling right now and we have felt this pain before too often (too many times). For me i am really hoping to stop properly this time (I am frightened for my financial future - i dont want to lose my house and all that goes with that - back to parents - loss of girlfriend - total embarrasment for family and work colleagues). Its time for me to really bite that bullet, its really painful a heavy loss (you know 3 years savings in one night). My retirement plans are gone, i don't owe any money and i don't want to borrow to gamble, so its time to stop, i'm at rock bottom mentally (it can't be right at work at 15.00 hours crying and pouring your heart out to a computer screen.) So are you like me Gary, shall we start that posting between us, i know its all cyberspace but in may help us. (as before cant post after 5.00pm tonight till monday evening)

Paul,

I agree our habits are very similar and I think it would be good to post between us. We have to make this work this time. Thanks for your honesty know how u feel mate. I felt in despair last night and in disbelief at what I done again.

So I too like u feel miserable and not looking forward to this weekend. I should be as my daughters are coming over and it's also my birthday on Sunday. I just feel like shutting myself away. Due to see my gfriend tonite but again struggling with that. Told her I wouldn't gamble again and I have.

Understand you are away the weekend. Try and enjoy it with your gfriend mate and catch u Monday night.

Keep strong

Gary

You guys are amazing, so resilient and strong. Don't lock yourself away, life is short, get out there and don't be afraid, we all make mistakes, dust yourself down, get to a GA meeting and hang in there, never give up.

Hi Gary, how r u? I'm not going to say my Easter was rubbish, because I spent it around some very nice people, but the moments I had on my own were mentally awful. I will be honest with you i would not be on here if I had checked out at 10.45p.m on 31/3/15, instead I chose to be greedy and a lost a life changing some of money. It was one of those very rare nights when my deposit had £K5 added to it by the on-line casino, i dont propose to chance my arm again having lost all those winnings and my deposit (even the VIP casino manager was aghast I had not withdrawn). So am I not in debt and I am not going to go there, in the end you cannot win because you cannot stop. Life will be tough for a few years no M&S more an Aldi life, but I am going to stop, what about you ?

Hi Paul

well done on getting through Easter. It's sooo hard when you are in a dark place just getting through each day, especially hard around these times.

My weekend was awful on the one hand had my daughters over and was my birthday on Sunday too so that was good. But on the other 2 x stupid bets initially £700 profit then lost £1500. This messed me up and cast a long shadow. After my daughters were dropped off yesterday my girlfriend came over. She wanted to go out but I felt so s**t and just wanted to stay in. We had a big argue meant and I thought we were over (again), I walked out but she's texted me this morning she is so supportive. I haven't gambled since Saturday now. Have installed K9 on all devices. Just taking it one day at a time...

Keep strong

Gary

Hi gary, how has to-day been for you, last time we 'posted' you were not in any debt, I hope you are still solvent - Paul

Hi Paul

since last posted I have bought a house and locked up about £20k in it. But now have a £2.5 k loan that I hate having. Worked out a plan to pay off in 10 months. Could be better but could be a whole lot worse. Feeling pretty down again today, how's your day been?

Gary

hi gary, my day has been very busy at work, but i am feeling very low, if i didn't need my wage i don't think i would have got out of bed. I know that is a sur sign of depression, i am trying to work on that. i still have no debt from gambling, but are unable to realistically save more that K2.5 per year. Not nearly enough working years to put anything back into savings, need 40 plus years of work. That has been the crux of my problem, trying to put back what I have ever lost to gambling. I have to be to accept its gone ....... so tough to accept a working life's savings down the drain. Sorry for the negativity, catch u tomorrow. - Paul

Hi Paul

sorry mate that I didn't post yesterday. Been in a very depressed state this week. Went to bed at 8.00pm last night. I'm trying to be positive but it's a struggle. I also have been like a hermit this week and shut myself away (apart from work). Been totally blanking my girlfriend after our argument on Monday. Just can't face her.

sorry that's me being negative. I hope your ok.

Gary

Hi Gary, hang in there mate, are u solvent ? If so go forward, make a go of it with her, lonliness is awful when you have lost large sums of money, it seems to compound the problem. Your daughters need a father to look up to, not someone who shuts himself away. You need as you say to take a day at a time, but as we both know gambling to recover our losses is not a way forward. Happiness does seem to have disappeared, but it will come back .................... so they say. Catch u later

Thanks for your encouragement Paul.

Hows your day been mate? Are u seeing your girlfriend this weekend. Try and relax and have a couple of days away from the worries pal.

Cheers Gary

Hi Gary, i have been at my girlfriends all weekend, so I could not post to you. Yes as always our days together are good, ending on a slightly worried note. She asked me had I gambled since we last spoke on the matter (where she gave me her final ultimatum-gamble again and we are history), well I have, but I not very convincely denied it, worried days ahead, as well as the gambling worries. How has your week-end been, are you back with the girlfriend, have you seen your daughters? - Paul

Hi Paul

sounds like things might be coming to a head with your gfriend too, I would recommend you tell her at some point. Just get yourself back on a bit of an even keel if you can, she will help you.

my gfriends been amazing really. She's been really supportive it's taken me back really. So yes the weekend was much better.

As they say one day at a time.

Catch u tomorrow Paul.