Horrible feeling in the pit of my stomach

Welcome you've come to the right place for help and advice to rid yourself of this horrible addiction.

All current and ex compulsive gamblers here, have had that horrible gut wrenching feeling and the panic and anxiety of realising what we've done after our latest disastrous gambling session.

You have to start with the basics and ask yourself, why, how and where do you gamble.

Once you've answered those questions you can look towards, putting in changes and blocks to stop yourself.

For instance for me, my gambling was online, slots.

Why well I had the money, was single, no responsibility such as children. It also meant I had the time when not at work to gamble.

Where, well at home on my computer.

Steps I took, close accounts down, put spare money towards debt immediately once paid and a bit into a savings account with no card. Told my mother of my situation.

The more information you give the more advice you'll get. There will be someone who is or has been in the same position as yourself.

So stick around, read a lot and post as often as you need. Many find starting a diary on the forums is a great way of getting everything down and out.

Hello Gingerlemon,

Well done on talking about your gambling problem for the first time.

Many of our forum users who are trying to stop online gambling choose to self-exclude from all of their existing gambling accounts and then install blocking software/restrictions/parental controls on their devices/internet access, to make it less easy to open up new gambling accounts.

http://www.gamcare.org.uk/get-advice/what-can-you-do/self-exclusion#.VCA5zPldXww

http://www.gamcare.org.uk/get-advice/what-can-you-do/blocking-software#.VCA52fldXww

It sounds like you feel anxiety about the debt you created by gambling, and you have been trying to handle the problem in secret without any support. You could talk with free professional debt advice services like the National Debtline, if you have particular debt questions. For your anxiety and insomnia, you could talk with your GP. For support for your recovery from problem gambling, you're welcome to talk with us on 0808 8020 133.

Perhaps using the forum could help you to develop more confidence about possibly using support closer to home too. Many of our forum users do eventually choose to confide to people close to them in their personal life, like their partner or parent, and sometimes this can create more support for their recovery and can potentially help with relapse-prevention, particularly when their loved one is allowed to help by supervising or controlling finances.

Take care,

Forum admin.