Going to loose everything

Hi Donna & welcome to GC!

Well done for joining and looking for help.

Great first steps made by admitting you have a problem and putting barriers in place. Alongside Gamstop would also advice to install GamBan on your devices. The more security the better!

Addiction can be arrested but it needs daily work and commitment. Stopping is a lot easier than staying stopped. Rewiring the brain can be a challenge but you don't have to do it on your own!

GamCare is here for support, they also offer free 1 to 1 counselling, you can also find a GA groups nearby for peer to peer support. Most importantly keep talking and sharing, you are never on your own here!

I wish you all the best, be kind to you.

Day at a time 🙂

S& B xx

It's took a while for me to seek help, none of my friends knew till yesterday and today they were quite shocked cause I've acted normal but I cant do that no more,
.the counciler I spoke to on the phone was lovely I burst in to tears at first she just sat on the phone waiting for me, she has reffered me for some therapy sessions,

I'm just confused by the way I feel when I could gamble I didn't want to... But still did
Now I can't I want to and miss it,
I don't understand it,

Thank you

You're being very brave in opening your heart with the councillor. It can be an eye-opening experience as I found, but ultimately can reveal untold secrets and clear solutions.

I know what you mean about wanting something when you can't have it (e.g. gambling) but this is the test you will need to pass. And as time goes on you will have further challenges and hopefully you will learn to hate the thought of gambling because of the misery it causes.
All the best to you.

Thank you, I said that to the councilor today, I hate gambling I don't want to do it, it needs to stop before I loose my home and my kids, they can't be homeless but I can and will be, but I still do it, aslong as I stop now I can rain my debts in catch up get back on top in couple of months if I carry on then I won't and I'll loose my whole life,
Now I cant get online to gamble I'm missing it, this is so hard, the bookies and arcades don't bother never stepped in them, well arcades I have but that's for the kids and 2p machines etc

Please remember that there's always another way (gambling not included). Also that things will generally work out if you keep the faith. Sometimes we need to take ourselves away from the stress of life in order to deal with it. You love your kids and this will be like a double-edged sword. You want to provide the best for them, but may not have the money. Gambling for more money could leave you and your children in a far worse position.

So, you are where you are. Don't dwell on the money lost. If you can kick the gambling habit then the future may behold wonderful rewards.

I have been in the position where I felt like my life was over. That things were impossible to deal with. But if you deal with each area of concern, a step at a time, you've got a great chance.

Hey,

Glad to hear you have opened up to friends and very well done for arranging counselling sessions! They will help and you can be honest and open and find strategies and ways forward to live a happy and stress free life.

It is out there for you, accept help/ support and make that changefor the better.

You are very honest person and that will go a long way.

Your kids are very blessed to have you, never forget that!

Take care - one day at a time

Thankyou for your kind words it means so much for a while I didn't think I had a problem cause I never went in to bookies or arcades, reading through peoples storeys seems online is the biggest problem, its only got a problem this last year, im on verge of loosing everything after a year and others have been doing it for much longer

Yes yes, unfortunately this can creep up at steady pace to start with. I am also online slots addict and I sweared on my life that I will never step into bookies or casinos. ..I did visit both avenues in due course.

Urges can take over and rational thinning goes out of head. I can't speak for anyone but for me when urge strikes, i had to fulfil it here and now. No matter how many miles of me travelling it may take.

That's why recognising the urge is very important. It is a feeling. ..but feelings are also thoughts..thoughts cannot hurt us if we don't act on them.

Addiction is progressive also. I have had many slips in my journey (trying to fight this for 6 years!) and with every slip were bigger consequences to account for. ...

Abstaining is not enough. Seed of gambling desire has been planted. A lot more than just blocks needs to be done to understand ourselves better. That's why I mentioned counselling or GA. Talking/ sharing and accepting our shortfalls puts a foundation to get better. It's work which needs to be done daily.

Addiction will not just dissapear, we are addicts and we will be addicts. However its down to us if we choose to be addicts in recovery.

You got this, want recovery as much..or even more as next bet and you will find your way forward 🙂

Ps...didn't realise I sounded so negative here lol...not all doom and gloom. Choice is in your hands - choose recovery!

All the best

S&B xx

I spoke to a counciler on the phone yesterday she has reffered me for therapy, I also put gamstop in place and for the 1st time I spoke to my friends about it, I atcullly feel a bit better now I've opened up about it, I can not wait till next pay day, I'm atcullly going to have money after bills been paid and I'm gonna spoil my kids in all fairness it's my daughter bday next month to, so glad Im sorting it now or her birthday be a struggle

I've just received a phone call from ara