Hi all,
I have finally admitted that i have a gambling problem after 20 plus years of spending every penny i had on fruit machines and lately online sports. I am 47 and my wife has left me. I have had to sell the house and start over again, albeit with not much money because of the gambling but at least i am still solvent. I am now realising that at 47 i have lost everything and my dream of owning my own property is becoming less realistic.
The easy thing to do would be to spend all of the remaining equity on gambling as this makes me feel good considering my situation. I am scared that i will spend (gamble) all of the remaining money and really be left with nothing.
Can someone please give me inspiration and hope that i still have time to rebuild my life and finances and give some guidance as to how you have got thorugh it.
Many thanks
Have you had a look at some of the diaries on the Recovery section? might be worth a few hours reading. Also you could give Gamcare a ring, maybe look into some more counselling if you've already had some? Possible?
Hello Bumblebee,
Triangle is right there's lots on success stories on here. I think a good way to look for inspiration is to look at what you have and be grateful for that. I say all the time that we focus on things we don't have and don't appreciate the things we do have.
All the best
Conradnose
check out my blog www.conradnose.com
Hi Bumblebee
I'm not long gamble free myself but one thing for sure if you are looking for inspiration check out some of the posts.
You are still young enough to get your own house if that's what you truly want. You can do it.
There are loads of tips on the site to help you stay away from gambling and counselling may help.
You have taken the first step, now it's onwards and upwards
Best of luck have faith in yourself
Hi there,
At 47 you still have a whole life ahead of you, a life which can be rich with everything you want as long as you are gamble free. I feel like a hypocrite as I am only on day 3 of not gambling. I even looked at some online sites tonight (I am excluded from all) but quickly shut my browser down as I realised it's just a bad habit to do it. We have a long road ahead of us, and I'm sure it's going to be very very tough. I think this will be one of the hardest times in my life to get over this, it will be for all of us but we have the support here, we have counselling. Look into some counselling and other things which will help you along your journey. I am awaiting CBT. I have already had sessions of talk therapy which helped, but didn't stop me gambling. The key is to try as many things as you can to help your recovery. Life will be fun and enjoyable again, we will find peace and happiness. You literally have so much of your life ahead of you, so what you do now is going to be what seals your future.
Thank you to all of you who replied. I have given my cards to my son to manage my money (shameful)! I have self excluded from every online gambling site (But only by opening them in the first place and gambling £1000's in the process). Normally i would just open another one as they pop up. I only hope that not too many new ones pop up. So i'm doing as much as i can to put barriers in my way. I have only just realised how much of a problem it became and that it has been to blame for my marriage breaking up and the continous debt cycle and financial problems. I am actually quite excited that i am now going to save some money and be debt free eventually. I only hope that i don't fall into the same trap as some of the case studies and start again.
I am realising that this is an addiction and shouldn't be treated any other way than any other addiction. Ex smokers cannot ever have another cigarette. Alcoholics cannot ever have another drink. Drug addicts cannot ever take any more drugs. Gamblers cannot ever partake in gambling of any form otherwise it is a slippery slope.
I am going thorugh all sorts of emotions at the moment. Excitement at the prospect of having money and a life. Angry that i did it in the first place and have wasted £100's of thousands of pounds. Sad i have lost my wife. Depressed i am not gambling.
Onwards and upwards. Musn't gamble no matter how small a wager or what you gamble on.
Good luck everyone.
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