Here again

Hey John,

I can relate, I think most of us on here will be able to. I'm only a few days clean myself, struggling over 20yrs now, finding the root cause seems to be nay impossible. In my previous attempts I've not really changed anything in my day to day routine, just the usual blocks on phone, self exclusions, all things we know there will ways around it. But I think we need to drastically change something, whether that's giving control of your money to your partner, distancing yourself from "friends" that tempt you back, evening or weekend hobbies that fill excitement voids. 

I'm on the flip side where you don't want to be, personal loans, maxed credit cards, payday loans, money from friends and family, trust me you don't want this! Don't ignore where this sickness will take you, being in the green right now shouldn't feel like a nice cushion that allows you to go back time and time again, please make this change now. If your friends don't know about your addiction, then maybe share with those closest, they should be a support for you, not a banana skin waiting to happen. 

Wish I knew the answer, but I know the pain of having nothing, the pain it will cause both you and your loved ones. Share your struggles with them now, it will be one of the hardest hurdles to get over, but once you're over trust me its well worth it. Don't struggle alone pal. 

Hi John, I need help as well it's the fobt and slot machines I am addicted to. I have lost £2000 in a week. Putting like £500 in a £100 jackpot machine and also them machines in the bookmakers.

Hi John, 

Maybe it’s time you look for additional help towards your recovery? 

As a girlfriend of a gambling addict, we have been through recovery over and over and over. We are finally getting outside help (going to GA meetings, been referred for counselling through GamCare, and booked a GP appointment to discuss the effects it is having on his mental health). They are proactive approaches which may or may not help - but we won’t know until we try them. All we do know, is that thinking he can do it by himself and stopping cold turkey does not work (for him personally). 

This is a mental illness, a disease that is crippling. In my honest opinion, it’s no different to any physical disease that needs thorough and proper treatment to ‘cure’. 

I’d recommend speaking to the GamCare team (via chat or WhatsApp) and seeing what help is out there. It’s great to hear you are still in the green, it means you have some stopping power, and that’s a great thing to have. You just have to want to put in the effort to get better now. 

Sorry for some hard truths, and I don’t mean to offend. But as someone on the outside looking in, maybe it’s time to see what other support is available. Hope this helps. 

Hi John,  today is my day one and I’m setting myself achievable targets and hoping to build on these.  I’m grateful for everyone’s advice and want to work towards my goals together.  I feel that a great weight has been lifted now that my addiction and lies are in the open.  Nowhere to hide I guess.  

Hi guys thanks for the reply’s.  I do need some help I’ve opened up with people about my anxiety not so much the gambling.

I’m not in the UK so I need to find therapy here if I am to do so, I spoke to my doctor about a mental health plan so I might go down this route.

 Hopefully don’t need medication but what will be will be.  Day 4 feeling strong about not going back.  Resisted the temptation of a message today to gamble from a friend who also has a problem and went on with my day.

Celebrate the small wins I guess and make today better than tomorrow.