Feeling ashamed

Hi Mawee and Welcome,

Coming to this Forum is best thing you could have done. Most of us on here have experienced the desolation and fallout caused by being a CG. It can be very lonely where you are at present. Losing your job is traumatic enough and the guilt caused by the effect of your actions on the people you love dearly.

I've been througn a lot of c**P caused by my gambling over the years (I'm a man in my fifties). I saw the light and I don't gamble anymore and this Forum has helped me immensely. Other people may post advice for you shortly but for now I'll give mine.

If you are very depressed and anxious please see your GP. It maybe he/she can prescribe medication to try and improve your mental state. They may also be able to arrange counselling about your situation.

If you gamble online you need to block all online gambling sites. You most self exlude from betting shops and or casinos if you have been using them. Put your finances in the hands of a trusted relative so that you have very limited access to whatever little money (only enough for essentials like groceries etc). You will feel urges to gamble again in order to chase losses (this will more than likely happen). You've got to break the vicious gambling circle (time/money/location-That's imperative. You need to put in place the strongest anti-gambling measures so when you get the urges you can do nothing about it.

Your husband could contact Gamcare or GA about help for relatives of gamblers.

If you have got debts contact the banks/lenders and put payment arrangements in place with the possibility of interest suspended. You need only tell them you've lost your job and are in financial difficulties as a result. You need not mention gambling if you don't want.

Reading through previous posts on here may be of help to you as well.

You can contact Gamcare about counselling and/ or you could consider going to GA meetings.

Whatever happens you are not alone when you come to this site. We UNDERSTAND what you have been and are going through.

You may wish to tell your husband and daughter that you are seeking help through this site. It will give them confidence that you intend to do something about your situation.

I've gone nearly 250 days without gambling. That's not a boast. It's just to let you know that if I can keep on the "straight and narrow" you definitely can. It's not to late for you to start the 2015 challenge on here. You'll become proud of how the gambling "clean" days mount up for you. It's very much one day at a time but it can be done. Believe me.

Best Wishes.

Hi mr stop, thank you for the support, I have already contacted gam are and have received two sessions of counselling, which is helping it's just in between sessions I feel so alone, so maybe support from here will help, I visited my doctor yesterday who has given me something to help me sleep so maybe I can start to feel a little normal again, I no longer have access to money my husband has been great about this, he doesn't understand but has said he is there for me no matter what, my daughter doesn't know the extent of my gambling as we are trying to keep what she knows to a minimum at the moment but I just can't he feeling that I have left everyone down, I have a friend who I have to say has been a real help for me and without her I don't know if I would have got through the last few weeks, I have not even thought of gambling since this all came out just feel alone, thank you for your kind words they have helped, well done on your journey so far maybe that can be me one day.