Hi all, I'm Chris and new here
I'm 29 and have been gambling online for the last few years but only recently it has become a problem.
This is going to be my third month in a row losing most of my pay package before the month is even out
My parents have loaned me money to get by for the last two months because like an idiot I told them I lost my job, now they think I'm jobless and really resent lending me money.. I literally have £49 in the bank and have to pay out over £350 before my next pay day and that is not including food
I feel my only option is poker so I can survive the month but is the solution really also the problem?
I am really at my wits end now and can't really think straight. Any advice at all would be great
no whatever you do dont try and chase what you have lost- draw a line under it, its gone. You may have to go a month or so being completely skint but as long as you dont gamble you will have a better month next month. It may seem like the easy way out but you will end up in a worse spot- take a look at the other diaries on here and you will see where this path will take you. There are a lot of great people on this site that will advise you as to what you can do - i dont think I am one of them as I am only in the early stages of recovery myself. But what I can tell you is, carrying on gambling will not only rob you of every penny every month but will fill you with this self loathing that you cant get rid of unless you stop.
Do whatover you can to stay away - tell your parents everything and give them control of your money if you can, get blockers for your computer if that is your demon but try your best to stop because your life will be so much better if you stop now. Well done on spotting that you have a problem so early and we are all here to support you in your recover. Happy Gamble Free New Year x Linda
Hey Meatball - welcome to the forum that no one wants to be on but all of us need. Well done on your first post and your honesty.......
Hardtimes post is superb for you......you need to lay the foundations for stopping.......you already know deep down inside the answer to your question, but need to act on it now. The only thing I disagree with hardtimes on is her self deprecating point about not being one of the people who can give great advice - read her diary and understand what she's come through and how she's still managing recovery. Really inspiring.
Good luck mate and whatever you do, don't turn to poker - it's the sloppy slope.
Mr Brightside
Like the guy above I'm early stages of this stopping thing myself but I do think it's important to really make a mental commitment to stop and try and really see things from outside the loop. Reading this forum has been a massive help to me. Apart from my own situation I can empathise with everyone else's. Sort of easier for me to be more rational when reading the horror stories and in none of them had gambling been a good thing. Even when a lot if us had big wins we have thrown it away quickly and probably followed it with a lot more as we chase.
Your situation sounds stressful and bad but sounds manageable from the outside perspective. We would all hate to see it get worse and I guess the general consensus here is if you chase losses it does get worse.
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