So I’ve finally figured I have a serious problem and need to sort this.
Ive struggled for many years with depression and found that gambling on sports was a great way to escape from the misery that is going on in my head.
Except this is where the problem starts...
Putting big lumps of cash from savings and also wages which should be money for bills and before you know it your chasing lost bets and it’s a downward spiral. It needs to stop.
the hardest bit for me was realising I have a problem and being down a couple of thousand as opposed to others down a hell of a lot more than me, I’m finding myself very angry at myself and cannot get over the fact I can be so stupid.
Does anyone else have this same issue in regards to being angry at themselves or how to deal with forgetting about losses and moving forwards. If I could cut my loss and move on without dwelling on it I would be a lot happier but I just can’t seem to do it
I think we all feel like that. Like you I am not several thousands in debt, but feel angry at what I could send the money I’ve wasted on! Stick with it and you will see the fruits of your labour x
Eventually you forget, but it takes a long time for addicts to get over that. In the meantime you need to make access to cash harder for yourself.
I thinks its part of most peoples behaviour to not focus on the here and now, we are always off fantasising/worrying about the future or we are thinking about the mistakes or glories from our past. We are essentially always chasing something and are never really statisfied.
For compulsive gamblers this is turned up to the max, which is why we go so far off the rails. For me gambling was also an ideal escape, my day to day was constant stress due to money issues and worrying about the future, ironically I turned to gambling which made it infinitly worse but it was a great escape. While gambling the storm and stress in my head ceased to be a problem as my focus was on gambling. It was a brutal cocktail which sent me to rock bottom.
Hi Thor 21
You are not alone and there is no shame in facing depression. I have had depression all my life and I think I have always been depressed to a mild or greater extent.
When you learn more about the addiction, its not stupidity or greed, rather we were addicted to the mind control fix of it. Im not a stupid or silly person but that addiction had me well under its control
You have to focus all your thought processes in letting it go. You must forgive yourself because its not all our fault. Thats not an excuse for my actions...its the reality of an addiction which works in the same way as substance addiction.
The hardest part for some is that the money is gone. There is not a get it back later scheme in operation on those odds. Same calculated odds which take no account of the money we already wasted.
I had an ill relationship with life and therefore money. Gambling was a shot in the arm and a cry for help. Thats what I came to terms with during recovery. The real issues were that I felt life was against me and I was depressed.
The anger does fade away with time. You have to talk to people like you are doing here and find that born again moment
Best wishes from everyone on the forum
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