Ever since I was a young boy aged six or seven I've gambled, it started with fruit machines at sea side towns like Rhyl. I was always the first one to spend all my money and ask for more. I never wanted to stop! As my life progressed I still played on the fruit machines spending all my pocket money and money earns from a weekend job, whilst all my friends had nice things to show for their money I had nothing and when I did manage to buy something nice I'd end up selling it a few weeks later for 75% less than I brought it for. A year or two later I moved into full time employment and again all my money was going in fruit machines but now I was also betting on horses and dogs. Eventually, things went from bad to worse... I ended up thousands in debt, lost friends and the trust of those close to me due to broken promises. Whilst all my friends were going out to nightclubs and doing what people in their late teens and early twenties do I was sat at home on payday with no money to go out. Then the real night mare began. The roulette machines were introduced and the speed I was winning and losing money was immense I was winning more than I could ever imagine and more than I could ever win playing a fruit machine but ultimately this lead me on a downward spiral of depression, homelessness, losing my marriage, my daughter, my career, myself respect, the trust of others and a mountain of debt. I've tried to stop gambling many times in my life but always seem to get hooked back into it. However, over the last two yeas I've tried harder than ever before and have succeeded for eight months then ten months. I just wish I could stop forever...
Hi cov welcome to the forum. Really sorry to hear that you have lost everything but you have made a good move coming here. Are you currently gambling? I only ask as you said that you have been 8 months and 10 months gf. Do you play online or in the bookies? It may help to look into what blocks you currently have in place as you look like you need more. For instance self excluding from all sites/bookies with either the use of software for devices or self excluding from bookies. You will find lots of support and advice around the forum and I am sure that others will be along to offer their support.
Good luck in your recovery
Hi
Youre in the right place. Im here to tell you that you can stop when you reach out for real help. Its about a new sense of pride and determination.
Walk in with pride and self exclude. Get those photos printed.You dont have to tell them every detail. Your name and picture will block you
Try and talk to people close in your life. Focus on what gambling did to you. Who wins? Most people just lose lose lose.For a compulsive gambler it isnt so much about the money anyway. Phone gamcare and book some counselling. Go and see the doctor for a chat about it.
Keep talking on the forum. Open up to what exactly you have been doing. Try and rationalise what you have done because in the cold light of day it will sound like crazy behaviour. You cant rationalise it because its an irresponsible act driven by addiction and ignoring the odds. Its not a give money to covfandan scheme and you are going to need plenty of tough love through this process.
Ive seen gamblers at work begging colleagues for money on a Monday morning and there isnt really a sadder sight. They didnt last long in the role and gambling costs people everything because its a deadly serious addiction.
Any gamble free period is good but you need to move on to the next stage now or you will never stop for good. The next stage is proper blocks and monitoring of your location and finances.
Its needs to be when you have a thought , you cant gamble because you have broken the time location money triangle.The plan is that eventually you return to a healthy state of mind and wonder why you would ever give your money away.
You wont do it with your willpower alone.
Best wishes
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