Hi all. First post so please bare with me. I am 25 and have gambled heavily for the past 7 years. Started on the odd fruit machine in the pubs then got in to roulette Nd slots which I spend every day playing and have for the past 5 years. I cannot seem to stop this cycle for love nor money. I have a decent job but seem to be jeopardizing this by going out and galling when I should be working. From the moment I wake up to the moment I go to bed I have gambling on my mind. I have anxiety issues which are caused by previous parts of my life and gamble to quash the anxiety but now more than ever the gambling is the main cause of it. Me and my partner are expecting are first child very soon and am very desperate to crack this horrible addiction. I hope someone has some wise words as I feel I have no hope of giving up! Thanks for reading. Dave
I'm only starting out on my own road to recovery so maybe not the best person to ask.
What kind of help would suit you bes? There's loads of good help and advice our there.
You told your partner what you're going through?
Hi DW, welcome and congratulations on taking the first and hardest step.
There is so much information and experience by the posters on here. What I'd recommend as first steps (which I have only taken within the last few months so know how well they work) is to ban yourself from all the local bookies and hand over control of your finances to someone else. Just for a bit, just while you settle down a bit. It's a long hard road and you need to be fully committed but there is a brighter future.
I'd really recommend reading as much as you can on here. If you gain nothing else, at least you'll see you're not alone in this horrible spiral.
Wishing you all the best in your recovery. Keep us posted mate
Go to a doctor and get your anxiety issues sorted out, whether it be with medication, meditation or counselling. My anxiety always leads me back to gambling, because when I'm gambling all my worries are temporarily not there and i'm like in another world. But you can't hide from your fears forever, and the money goes quickly.
Obviously you can't gamble if you don't have any money. So only carry small change around for travel or whatever. Keep out of the way of temptations as much as possible, make your own lunch and eat it in your office. And give your plastic to your partner, and every financial decision let her make.
I'm only ever going to walk around with a couple of quid from now on. If I want to buy something I'll get it online, cos if Im packing a load of cash or credit in the highstreet, it's a recipe for disaster.
If I'd have given up access to money 10 yrs ago, I would've led a better life, so you're at a perfect stage to pack the gambling in at 25 and with a child on the way.
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