Day 1

Gambling especially when upset is my go to place , a place I drift into hoping for a big win and forget whatever emotional problems / stress I have.

I found the more I did this the more I lost , I would leave my friend and go to the bookies to gamble and would end up losing there trust because my afternoon out for a pint ended up with me in a taxi with not much money to my name at all.

Unfortunately for me I live in the north of england and Yorkshire especially where I live doesn't seem to have any decent couselling I can go to , however I broke down to my doctor once and he did point me in the right direction.

The problem I have at the moment after 200 days of not gambling emotional triggers mean I am back to square one.

Im from Yorkshire too and im struggling for support. I mean like counciling but then again I have not told one person about my problem. Feeling a bit lost today but keeping busy 🙂

Hi Nikki

Welcome to GamCare. I'm sorry to hear about your loss, and how this has impacted on you.

You clearly want to stop gambling and you are being proactive about it. I can see that you've found the support you've received here helpful so far. Well done for making an action plan regarding paying off your debts. Blocking that site sounds like a good idea. Installing some blocking software may be useful too, and can sometimes be more effective due to the number of online gambling sites. Please get in touch with us on the helpline or netline if you would like to discuss this in more depth.

I can hear that you feel there is a lack of specialist face-to-face support in Yorkshire. We do not currently have a counselling service in Yorkshire so the nearest to you would probably be Salford or Huddersfield. We do however have an online counselling service, which you may be interested in.

Perhaps you could also check Gamblers Anonymous for local support groups you could attend: http://gamblersanonymous.org.uk/index.php/ga-meetings/find-a-meeting as well as using our chatrooms (daily from 8-9pm ).

I wish you all the best

Laura

Id rather do it on a 1 2 1 basis rather than a group thing.. im too self concious for that :/

Gamcare sent me to one a few years ago near Bradford but it wasn't in the best part of town and in the end it wasn't for me I hear ga is also good but again there at night in pretty grim bits of the town. Do do you not have anyone you can confide in ?

I talk to no one- and im a single mum so I cant be knocking around bradford late at night

Your welcome to join checkin till New Year 2016 its on the overcoming problem gambling section of website

Have you considered the doctor Nikki ? They might be able to fast track you for some one on one sessions in other parts of town. You have made a huge step coming on here and if this is a situation on going for a few years you would seriously benefit from letting this big burden on your shoulders out.

john010380 wrote:

Have you considered the doctor Nikki ? They might be able to fast track you for some one on one sessions in other parts of town. You have made a huge step coming on here and if this is a situation on going for a few years you would seriously benefit from letting this big burden on your shoulders out.

This migth sound bad but I dont want it on my records.... my ex is always going for custody of our daughter and I dont need any bad marks so to speak. Day 3 going good 🙂 I can do this x

I can completely understand where you are coming from.

If you gamble at home on the pc / phone download a k9 blocker that way you will not be able to access any gambling sites , also if you gamble with any high street names / bookies etc a simple telephone call saying you want to be self excluded is enough for them to block you from placing any further bets.

Trust me I have been in similar situations for many years and still cannot break the cycle however the basic blocks you can put in place discreetly and easily will make things better for you.

It must be tough trying to deal with everything and bring up a child on your own and with the added extras lifes upsets delivers life for everyone is tough , your escape seems to be gambling , that is what I do and a lot of people I talk to say the same because it offers them an escape from the real world.

The fact is despite how healthy your finances are / regardless of your job internet gambling will eat thousands within hours and can leave you with nothing.

This time last year I sat at my computer , I run my own company had thousands in the bank and almost blew my whole life in the space of two hours , I had a wedding to pay for this year and a young child to support I was hooked and there was no way out.

Give yourself some quiet time and get to grips with how , where , what & why and if you dont want to get help straight away try and help yourself , life is too short.

Blocks in place to start with , if the ability to gamble isn't there at your finger tips / pc will make a massive difference.

If you really wanted you could even ask your bank against discreetly to block gambling transactions on your card.

Just passing on what I have done that helped and was advise I was given , good luck in your recovery Nikki x

Can my bank block me that's a great idea!!! Still going strong just been keeping busy xxx

Hi Nikki, my bank blocked me just tell them the situation and they can arrange for it to be done x

Would I strugle getting things like a mortgage then though x

No of course not , it doesn't do anything to your credit rating.

However keep in mind if you do want a mortgage in the future you will need a clean bank statement , any signs of gambling = instant refusal.

You dont strike me as a problem gambler though Nikki , what is your story ? x

I really am a problem gamber... dont they just ask for 3 months worth of statementrs x