Hello

Hi Charlie,

My first post on here too, but i feel my story is very similar. I still live at home with my family and have had a problem since i was 18. Always kept it from them although I know they have suspected I have had a problem for a long time. Recently got a girlfriend which is good for taking your mind from the gambling although keeping it from her has been difficult too. Anyway my parents seen a bank statement that I had in my room and seen what I was spending on betting. I am now in around 7.5k worth of debt and all my wages are usually gone after a few days into the month due to repayments. My girlfriend now knows about this and she is determined to help me out which is good! Always seem to let myself down after a few weeks of not betting. Last year I went to the scottish grand national and the week before this i had 3k sitting in my bank account from betting alone. Just wish i gave up then, but thats all gone now too, so I know the feeling. Its horrible and in my mind everyday. I really hope you can get through this and focus on your career, you are still very young like myself and isnt too late to turn this around!

Cheers,

Ben

Hi ben,

I'm glad I've found someone in a similar situation, I think everyday what I could of done with the win I could have walked away paid debts yet Im sat here with a huge debt on me, I think the worst part about it all Is most of the debt is of freinds ect I have a small group of mates and looks like Ill end up loosing most of them, I'm currently waiting to go in live chat on 3****d to self exclude, I've done it on most other sites but thought Ill keep one bad mistake, I just don't know when to stop, And its like I never learn, At least I've found someone around my age going through the same problem, I really am done with it now.. I'm trying to work out how to pay it all and everytime I just think of gambling to try win it back, But in the short of it its like we know its not happening, I work about 20M away from ASPERS too and that don't help at all..But really want it to stop now, Let me know how you're getting on 🙂

Cheers charlie

Yeah, I know the feeling exactly. You just end up feeling so down and gutted about what it could have been... but its done now and you cant dwell on it. Its only about what you can do from now on that matters. I have also self excluded from all the main sites. To give you a plan on how to manage the debt, have a look at this... I have tried this and its good when you see everything all laid out and you know exactly what you need to do to be debt free, so you can look forward to an end goal. Its such a difficult thing and i never seen myself in this situation. I wish i listened to people when they warned me about this. It just cause problems in everything. Ive lost interest in things in life because of this and just feel like im lacking motivation all the time.

http://www.stepchange.org/Debtremedy.aspx

Hi All,

You can download K9 to block all gambling sites it's free. Get someone to set the password for you and make sure it's kept secret from you. That way if you get tempted you cannot gamble online.

Counselling (free) is available via Gamcare. You could consider going to GA meetings.

Giving a family member control of your finances is another idea.

Others may post advice for you as well.

Try hobbies and playing sport it helps keep you busy and i've found it helps control urges.

Cheers

Hi Charlie & Ben

I recently posted my story & let me first say well done on making a step to acknowledging you need help.

It's clear that you struggle to 'stop' which definitely is a characteristic of an addiction.

Stop whilst you can, keep the debt minimal & rebuild! I wish I had stopped when my debt was small!

Keep posting here, keep reading stories & follow the advice given. Most importantly though, be honest with yourself, your family & loved ones. Be strong!

B

hey i don't think you're gambling for the money; if you had been you would have quit while ahead after a sizeable win. You're a J****E, you're just doing it for the kick, the buzz. gambling causes changes in brain chemistry, you get a strong reward dopamine hit each time you win which you become addicted to. You could just as well be doing crrrak the effect is similar. As it's more subtle (substance generated within the brain through the action of gambling) it's legal, with the pushers on every high street & everywhere online. The problem is that if you continue to gamble you'll need bigger & bigger wins to get the same hit, just like a J****E, so will take bigger & bigger risks and end up losing even more. Quit now & stay stopped then your debts will reduce in time - otherwise if you don't you'll just become more addicted & your debts will increase.

Yep,

Lot of sense in these responses.

Always interesting to read what people post.

Can't really add anything else.

Apart from Stay Strong.

Hi guys,
Its been a ***t day, I finished work last night at 1am, And had 5 missed calls of one of the people I owe money too I owe him 200 quid, Worst part is Ive know the lad for years and its a week late hes told me how bad he needs it I just cant explain to him, He wont understand, Its like a big horror circle Im in.. I have £9 to my name In my bank and since I got home from work at 2 ive just been lying here thinking of what to do should I try gamble it and hope or just leave it there and not look at my balance... I'm selling my xbox one its worth around 300 when I got it I thought its a lot of money now Im sat here and it just seems like pennys, I had a look at that site ben the problem I have is only around 800 of my debt is owed to companys, The rest is people I know who wont understand thell see it as me being selfish and a c*** and there right look what Ive done I cant bare the fact Ivet got 5 missed calls yet told him Id call him yesterday Im so stuck I looked at how much ive earned today from the beggining of payrol im on 400 so far with a week and a half left but since Ive got my army intake I cut my hours down to train yet I just cant Ive lost all hope and thinking I may have to delay my intake or jack the whole idea But ive got this far I have a training intake,But I cant just runaway to debts I know for a fact In march on payday Ill get around 700 max I have a 43 quid phone bill,150 rent,And then the lad who lent me the 1400 wants 800 on payday and he knows when I get paid its like gambling litrally has ruined me, I cant turn to freinds as I only have a few and they wouldnt understand it ataДєl, Im not turning to family I just cant,I was thinking of trying for a bank loan but just know id get a big no from them I just wish it was all one debt from a company so I could pay it off but bevause its personal its alot harder, Yheres bigger risks with not paying people ontime ett its not looking like ill be getting much sleep today, Just feels like everythings against me