Hi, new to this forum so thought I'd introduce myself and tell my story. I'm Tom 28, first started gambling when I was 17 the small £5 accumulator in the bookies, which gets bigger, becomes online and betting on everything and anything. I ended up getting very bad having £1000 on bets. As most posts Iv seen on here I was chasing the loads and a big win. I had a partner, we was expecting a little girl. A week after she had her I had to tell her I had ruined everything. I had a £15000 loan, overdraft and payday loads which I couldn't physically pay anymore.
Probably the worst time I could have told her, she was amazing, stood by me, helped me sort my money out, so I just had one bank loan. She told me to get help and tell people. I said I'd be fine and could do it alone. She was in charge of the money I had about £20 a week. She did tell me though if I ever gambled again that was it (we was due to get married this may)
About a year and a half of not gambling I slipped, with a mate who went and had a bet so I stuck £5 Acca on a month then I'd pop in after work with the odd £5 or £10, I didn't borrow anymore but I know it would have ended up getting worse. She found out on Thursday, I generally thought that I was finished, she said the wedding was off and she couldn't do it anymore. I looked and my girlfriend and my daughter and couldn't believe what I'd done. I begged for another chance, said I'd do anything, anything. She agreed, I'm getting professional help and I have started telling family and friends and luckily the wedding is still on. I know I can never, ever gamble again. I have a great support network so I know I can do it, hopefully in two years I can be debt free and start having nice holidays with the family which is what life is about. Thanks for reading, Tom
Hello Tom
All I could suggest is to self-exclude from the bookies you were going into after work and as your family seems to be your main motivation have a picture of them in your wallet to remind yourself what you're really risking by gambling.
Professional help, handing over finances and a strong support network - all excellent ways to prevent a relapse.
Welcome to GamCare.
Your support network just got a lot bigger.
Glint
Thankyou both for your replys, I have handed all my finances over and have told family and friends which had helped massively as they have not judged me and been nothing but supportive. I know I can't mess up again, having already done once before when i thought I could just do it with me and my partner knowing.
Could anyone tell me if the 1 on 1 gamcare counselling is free as I think it's something that could really help me.
Thanks Tom
Wow..well done on coming here.. and how lucky you are to have your families support...you can beat this vile addiction with that support...and yes the counselling is free...good luck love c
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