Hi - I'm new

Hi Jane, everyone deserves a response on here. So take a look around check out the many shattered lives here (that is what gambling does to people like me). However the support from the Gamcare staff is great and others on here give top advice, so look around it will help you.

Thank you for your response. My gambling makes me feel ill! I have started a diary, which I am hoping will keep me in check.

Hi Jane I know the feeling same for me started as fun and was winning so much or making enough per week for treats, now the last few yrs say things have switched the wins stopped and it was loss after loss , the dyanmics of the games played changed ,

Hi All, Today is my first day.

I am not sure where or how to start!

I am a 42 year old woman that started Gambling about 8 years ago - I won (for me) a large amount of money £500 from £10! for the first 4/5 years i could spend a limited amount and walk away either with my winningings or the lose - I didn't see it as gambling more of a social thing like going down the pub spending £20. But the last couple of years it hasn't been like that.

I'm trying so hard to stop the urges come, i tried basic ideas like for every pound i dont spend i buy a dvd in poundland or an item in poudland which across the road from 4 bookies. why do they have to have easy cash loan places next to bookies now, they know were weak and will go in there if we needed to find money to play. im 41 too and i look back and say to myself why did i do this to myself

Thank you for your comments Ginuwin, I think the whole gambling culture is too easy to slip into. I have had an evening of relaxing and watching TV and every other advert that came on was either for a gaming site or the lottery! I just wish I was one of those kind of people that can play 1 line or buy 1 £1 scratch card and walk away win or lose xx

Hi Jane welcome to the forum and your in the right place I use this forum as well as attend ga meetings in my battle against this disease and it works so well done for posting your story is like most others and you can beat this illness and I wish you all the best in your journey x

We'll I've been gambling for 24 years since I was 18 and tried every type sports casino poker been to Las Vegas & all it's done is mess my life up but I've been off it now for 140 days since 15th June fathers days but have been struggling lately as had a few money problems and I know I can sort them out but looks for quick fixs so checking in on here to stay strong so I hope I can would gate to mess up again cheers and all the best to others trying the same

Thank you both for you comments and WOW cjasper 140 days! That's amazing - well done!!

Forrest I think you are very brave attending the meetings, I don't think I would be able to say something out loud to a room of strangers.

I am going to keep up my diary, thank you again x

hi jane.....it may feel daunting going to a meeting 1st time but trust me everyone who is there has done exactly what you have and they help and support you but if its not for you thats fine you are doing so well on your stopping and keep posting and getting inspiration on here. x

Thank you Half life for taking the time to comment. I am going to see how I get on with coming on here and self exclusion, if this doesn't work I think I will have to reassess and go to a meeting xx

Cheers jane lovely when people say I'm doing well just want 2 stick with it been to some dark places with gambling and do feel better .but now and then like to come on here to read how people r getting on , I've been going to Counciling it's my last session today

I hope your last session goes well cjasper, I am keeping my fingers crossed that I make 140 days xx

hi jane last session did go well and there's options to do more in future if needed, i hope u make 140 days+ and ive found with doing that u start to get your respect back for yourself and off other people around u and i find that people stop thinking of u as this gambler who cant b trusted and treat us back like a equal but saying all that i still dont have access to my bank cards and dont want them yet because i have stopped for this lenght twice before and gone back to gambling worst so with things ive learned from conselling i will battle the demons but life seems a lot lot better and i do wish u the very best of it with your staying off it,. because everyone on this site all wants the same.

Hi cjasper, thats a great achievement 140 days, well done, i'm in early stages of yet another recovery, what i find really and I mean really hard is the knowledge that the funds are never coming back. That is so difficult for me to accept, also the knowledge iv'e completely f....d up my financial life, my head just can't take it. Any advice on how you have (if you have) put those awful thoughts behind you.