Hello!

Well done for admitting you have a problem. Its not easy to do but you seem to have a deluded mindset if you think "I earn enough to have a carefree life" - this is a dangerous way to think. Your income is high but your gambling is a liability and therefore, your net profit is zero. You are also losing time, and your health has deteriorated due to your gambling habits. Not so care free now that you have to worry about your health and savings now is it? 

You cannot hide your guilty emotions forever. You are living in a bubble, and that bubble is about to burst. My advice would be just to open up to people around you. Start with one person, then the next. People are kinder than you think. Don't just let your mind wander to even thinking making a bet. Go do something else with that time, exclude yourself from these websites. For gamblers, we need to avoid the triggers, because the moment you deposit that cash or place a bet, it is free lose. You need to refresh and change your mindset, nothing in life is carefree forever. The things you take for granted - time, health, job, family will disappear eventually.

Please, please take some responsibility for your mistakes, don't chase them because the more you play the game, long-term you will lose guaranteed. Set yourself a goal and I suggest it is to put my effort and time to improve your mental health. I know what i would rather have. A healthy history of long-term mental health than a long-term history of gambling.

I hope that setting goal/s in life with help you improve because it helped me. when we are aimless with money, we tend to forget the value of life. Please cherish what you have and don't take things for granted.

Dear @seravat, 

Thank you for sharing your story with us. It sounds like you are taking important steps in the right direction to start addressing your gambling. It sounds like gambling is really having a negative impact on your physical and mental well being. 

As well as receiving peer support here, I wonder if you’ve considered speaking to an adviser too for some extra support ? I know they’d love to hear more about your situation and see if there is any extra support we could provide. You can talk to one on either our HelpLine on 0808 8020 133 or via our NetLine. They’d also be able to talk you through various practical strategies you can but in place and look at 1 to 1 support if you’d find that beneficial?

Take care, 

John

Forum Admin

Thank you all for the feedback.

Yesterday I fully openned up to my girlfriend. Showed her this post. It was very hard, but it felt very positive.

Also I already have some strategies in place:

- blocked all gambling transactions in my cards

- excluded myself from all gambling websites I could join

- set up direct deposits to an account both myself and my girlfriend control

- Continue with my psychologist

I also see gamecare has a section on other stratregies, which I will browse and apply.

@diamondhandz when I mentioned carefree life, I meant I could have it, although I still have a long walk towards it. Gambling will always be a part of my life, I  have to, step by step push it away.

I will certainly also have a 1 to 1 call with someone from gamecare.

Thank you all! 

Nice strategies although you still have the same mindset as a gambler. You think you can control it. if you truly want to push away gambling, then it can't be part of your life and you can't play it.. i'm sorry. The faster you realize that, the less risk you will take and your overall well-being and health will improve.

Have goals as well like putting your next months salary in a joint account to save for the renovation and learning more about money in general and saving it 🙂

There will be tough times, but know that if you have these strategies to achieve your goals and have a level mindset, then you will improve and live a carefree life.

Best of luck on your recovery.

Thank you @diamondhandz. Those are the things I need to hear!

And indeed, I don't want gambling to be part of my life at all.

Good idea to set realistic goals and I already asked for my gf's help on that!

I will also try to include more people on my journey as I go along, probably the next step is to talk with my sisters or a good friend 🙂