Hi all, new member here.
I have had gambling addictions since I was a child actually. Started playing the fruit machines on weekends at our caravan and when I turned 16 it went on to scratch cards. I still play the machines when I'm in pubs but scratch cards are a daily thing. I'm 34 now so I daren't even think about how much I've spent over the years. Sometimes I go to shops and spend ВЈ30-£60 at a time on them depending on if I win. Around 21 months ago my addiction you could say paid off when I won massive on one but I thought I would stop after the win but haven't. It's becoming even more of a problem now that I have the money to spend on them. I really need to stop and want to but everything I try it's just not enough.
Hi Kendo
Can you put the money into something you can't touch ? A savings account that is tied up and you can't access or handover to someone to keep safe ? I don't know, just out of the way and then work on stopping.
I don't know the answer as to how as I am on day 2 myself. Personally, coming on here is good for my mindset and I have been referred for counselling as I know that without unravelling the 'why' I will not deal with the problem permanetly. I know that it's something to do with blocking of painful feelings for me and i am ready to address that, but we are all different. I also know that i thrive on adrenalin and it's the excitement too. I am looking at trying to replace with something more constructive and I just want to be calmer.I also don't want to feel guilty and ashamed of the money I have spent anymore. I dont think there is one answer, but the starting point must be just taking the decision to stop.
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