I am new here I guess I will introduce myself I am a 37 year old mother of 1 and I have a fab partner of 14 years, I suffer with depression and health anxiety and the way I have been dealing with it is by gambling exclusively online bingo and slot sites, my partner found out last week about my gambling when a loan company I applied to tried to contact me about giving me a loan I had payday loans and two long term loans already I was paying out all but £50 of my wages each month and that 50 was gone on payday after gambling it on one of my sites when he found out we worked out how much I was in debt and it turns out I was 7 and a half grand in debt. He has paid off my debts and made it clear that while he loves me he won't bail me out again and he won't have our daughter growing up with a mother who gambles away the food money I completely agree with him and we are working things out we are still together and our daughter knows nothing of what's been going on. I'm having counselling for my depression and health anxiety and I haven't gambled or been on any online sites since the 22nd of June it's really hard but I don't want to lose my family I'm hoping that by joining this forum I can get some support from people who know what I'm going to be dealing with if that makes sense thanks for reading.
You've made the first step so well done on that! You seem to have a loving family so cherish that and use that to spur you on!
I'm nearly 2 days clean and facing the reality of paying off £12,000 in gambling debts off! But you can't dwell on it you just have to get on we it!
Look towards the day when all your debts are clear and when that day comes you can happily shout I AM X AMOUNT OF DAYS FREE OF GAMBLING.
That day will come! Your on the road to recovery now
Hi DP1988 thanks for your reply, I am using my family to keep me from gambling the thought of losing them is what's stopping me atm it's just so hard there are temptations everywhere I look I have taken to reading instead of watching the telly because of the adverts advertising the sites I use regularly I have put barriers in place to stop me from accessing the sites on my P c and tablet and phone I'm really worried that I won't be able to stop myself if the need really takes hold. I really do hope I'm now on that road to recovery!
All these emotions will be at there highest at this earlier stage! Stay strong and in the next few days they'll die down and you can move forward.
Stay strong the first step is the hardest but the rewards you'll reep in the days to come will make you realise it's the right thing and worth it
Hi Kala80
Welcome to the forum and yes we do know exactly what you may be dealing with
The best advice I can give is that you and your partner need to sit down again and discuss that there is no room for any complacency or the feeling you have beaten it just yet. Its a deadly addiction up there with the worst addictions and it controls the mind
Ideally your finances need to be monitored and you should be living on a sandwich and petrol allowance while you build a healthy mind again.
You must be blocked from everywhere and that is vital. A step further would be close control over your gadgets.
Its a deadly addiction which can rear its head out of the blue. You will enjoy proving yourself again and in time you will wonder why you ever gambled.
Gambling is strongly linked to depression and escape so all the issues within your soul need to be worked on. You need to be open and honest about your feelings and any urges to gamble.
With the right help and support I promise that you will put gambling behind you
Being gamble free is a wonderful feeling and I hope you will stay with us
Best wishes from everyone on the forum
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