Bit of help and advice really

Hi Paul, and welcome to the forum

I moved your post to our new members section as you had posted in our debates section instead.

It sounds as though you've reached a point where the gambling is coming to a head and you need a new approach - you mention worrying about the loan but it also sounds important to try and address the gambling as well. GamCare can offer you a lot of support with this, not only through this forum but also via our free helpline on 0808 802 0133 - perhaps give us a call today and an adviser will be able to let you know about the free support that is available locally as well as some different practical approaches that you might think about. If you are losing sleep and thinking of harming yourself it is important to reach out and get the help that is there.

I'm sure other members will be along shortly to offer their perspective but I wanted to let you know what is available.

Best wishes

Rebecca

Thank you Rebecca. I spoke to a lady on chat before and I am now considering the counselling you offer.

you're not alone Paul many 10,000s are here due to the evil and greedy nature of the gambling industry. I read stories hear of countless broken lives, whilst the gambling industry boasts how responsible it is and even claims to be part of the community!

Admittance is a great step and the fact you're here talking, takes you out of the bracket of the worst gamblers in denial.

Sounds like you are at the stage where you need to physically give over almost all control of your money to family and friends; you can sense you will loose more or all if you don't?

There are many strategies you can read of here such as self-exclusions, therapies, diaries etc.

My advice take on as many seperate strategies as possible, share the truth of your situation with as many others as possible rather than bottle it up. Come visit the Gamcare chatroom where you can chat live to other problem gamblers and get support. Take a screenshot of the schedule and keep it closeby.

I find physical actions work way better than mental affirmations. I snapped my chip and pin cards to symbolically break my old habbits! I filmed myself in my local bookies and filmed them serving me, then asked them were they were so lazy and didn't bother keeping to the self-exclusion scheme (I was excluded at the time).

Vent some anger at the people that took your money. Send them an email, phone them, write to your MP, be emotional, tweet them etc. Are you just going to let them get away with it whilst claiming to be so caring? Fight for your childrens future, for your future, smash your old habbits in every way possible.

best wishes 🙂

Thank Energizer that actually raised my spirits a little. I've taken note of all the things you've said I should do and I will beat this habit. Thing is though, I've been here in this very situation before seeking help but a couple months/years down the line I'm back to square one. Think I do need to take some responsibility and take myself away from all the distractions. The biggest one being the lads at work.

Hi Paul, I too have a gambling problem, I have been chasing my losses for 9 years. There is no way to win the money back from the casino I have lost £150,000 pounds to date trying to get back my losses that started at maybe £8,000 pounds 9 years ago. If you dont gamble, with time you will save the money for yourself, whats in the past is in the past. Let go of the money you played. Look to the future, save the money you earn and with time you'll be fine as long as you dont gamble

Hi, my first day on here also after another night of gaming and feeling disgusted with how much I spent on slots. I have been trying to stop for so long and am hoping to be clean by the new year ! My anxiety and money worries are through the roof when in fact I should be financially ok.

deanip wrote:

Hi Paul, I too have a gambling problem, I have been chasing my losses for 9 years. There is no way to win the money back from the casino I have lost £150,000 pounds to date trying to get back my losses that started at maybe £8,000 pounds 9 years ago. If you dont gamble, with time you will save the money for yourself, whats in the past is in the past. Let go of the money you played. Look to the future, save the money you earn and with time you'll be fine as long as you dont gamble

That's great advice, I constantly worry abouyt my losses but like you say, they're in the past, I wish I had the willpower to stop completely.

Katiecoo wrote: Hi, my first day on here also after another night of gaming and feeling disgusted with how much I spent on slots. I have been trying to stop for so long and am hoping to be clean by the new year ! My anxiety and money worries are through the roof when in fact I should be financially ok.

Hope everything is ok now Katie! My anxiety is sky high right now, I hate it. Glad I'm not the only one going through this, hope you manage to sort things out!