Hi my name is Jim, I'm a 32 year old with a good job and great Mrs and a lovely young child. But my gambling is out of control and now I've moved the stakes up like my gambling to the point where 2 nights ago after a Christmas party and loosing another £750 in about 10 minutes I tried to kill myself.
The only reason I'm still here is my mrs found me and rang the emergency services, next I just remember a lot of police trying to calm me down and make sure I was going to hurt myself or my family anymore...I would never had hurt my family but I cannot see anyway out for myself.
The gambling is a big problem for me! I'm losing thousands a week and at some point if I carry on like this I will be dead or unemployed or maybe lose the house my family need and deserve.
Lots rolling round in my head at the moment but the main things are why am I addicted to roulette and is it even possible to quit gambling in the long term. Yesterday I google is it possible to quit gambling and the first forum I found was on a mothers website, the heavy consensus was no.
This is day 2 without a gamble, I got a lot of issues ahead but let's give it a go, fully committed this time.... That's why I'm writing this so its in writing.
Hi Jim. Welcome to the forum. So sorry to hear that you felt suicide was the only option. I hope you are getting ongoing support with these feelings. Have you been referred to mental health services? Are you going to see your GP?
As for the gambling, there is every hope Uncertain outcomes has shown you that things can improve from here. Free counselling may be available where you live. There are also Gamblers Anonymous support groups. Whether you gamble online, in bookies or in casinos, blocks can be put in place to make it harder for you to gamble. Give us a call on the GamCare freephone helpline 0808 8020 133. You 've made the first step by joining this forum. We can help you take your next steps to recovery.
Best wishes
Forum Admin
Hi Jim24.
You are in the best place to make a new start. we understand what you have been going through.
Its a learning process. You will control the addiction and beat it
It takes the support and all the help you can reach out for.
Please ring gamcare as many times as you like and the doctor can also arrange counselling
There is no shame in admitting a gambling addiction. you are looking for the born again moment coupled with the blocks that your family can help you with
it can be done but I wont say too much just now
best wishes from everyone on the forum
Words of encouragement; any steps you take to fight against this controlling your life are worthy steps!!!
Forum admin wrote:
Hi Jim. Welcome to the forum. So sorry to hear that you felt suicide was the only option. I hope you are getting ongoing support with these feelings. Have you been referred to mental health services? Are you going to see your GP?
As for the gambling, there is every hope Uncertain outcomes has shown you that things can improve from here. Free counselling may be available where you live. There are also Gamblers Anonymous support groups. Whether you gamble online, in bookies or in casinos, blocks can be put in place to make it harder for you to gamble. Give us a call on the GamCare freephone helpline 0808 8020 133. You 've made the first step by joining this forum. We can help you take your next steps to recovery.
Best wishes
Forum Admin
Thanks for the encouragement it's appreciated, been referred to a mental health team and been to see them. Next step is going to a GA meeting and then looking to book in for some counciling.
Just wanted to say thanks to everyone for the messages, taken all your advice on board and I feel a little more positive and I'm starting to feel like any help is a good thing. baby steps but I'll get there.
​Well done Jim for seeking help and keeping positive. Although it may seem daunting there is always other options and a life without gambling will give you the chance of a better future. One step at a time...​
Hi Jim, well done for admitting you have a problem and need to sort it out. To get to the point where you try to take your own life, that's the time to really admit defeat to gambling. My mums always says 'you'll never win, the only way you'll get money is to work'. It's not about money, it's the fantasy, the being in the motion, the fix of a thrill, the escape. Real life is boring, hard work doesn't sound appealing to anyone, i'm not into beer or drugs, i'm not even lazy but gambling floats my boat. The worst thing is it's the worst type of addiction to have, it slowly destroys you and everything around you.
You say you looked online if you can beat it, it's not about beating it, it's about controlling it. If you don't gamble one day at a time, or even half a day at a time, or in some peoples case 1 minute at a time, then it all adds up to a long period. Try and get to a GA meeting, at least you will meet like minded people who understand every feeling and emotion you have.
I will give you this one bit of advice, there's no button someone can press on your head and you're cured, it's your button and only you can press it. Things don't get better in 1 day, be patient as it takes time. Try and hand over your finances to someone else in the meantime and Jim, don't beat yourself up, what's done is in the past and you're not alone, you're not the only one who has messed up a bit.
Made it to 132 day then threw it all away. Never felt so low as I do right now. the combo of a hangover and the guilt is hitting me hard. I've got my son as well today so I need to put a brace face on it but inside I'm broken. Gutted that I'm back to day 1.
I did it myself last night, was drunk, lost a bit of money, and ended up in casualty,as I tried to slash my wrist. There was nagging feeling in my head that this was wrong...
Sorry to hear that Harlequin, hope you are ok now?
Normally I would give some words of wisdom but I don't think I would believe them myself today. Feel such a loser even though I won a little money. Think I going to have to stay away from the booze, just remember anything after the casino which is worrying.
Jim - parent of a gambler speaking - not here to judge or nag but hopefully help. I can see we are actually talking as parent to parent so we have a little bit in common already. First of all it sounds as though you have a lovely little family that is worth fighting for. Yes, you have slipped up but what you need to remember is that you did go a really long way in your recovery and be proud of that. Now, what you need to do is put this relapse right behind you and today is day 1 and make your goal to go many more days gfree than before. In my experience our gambler found drinking the real catalyst for doing the gambling. Once that has been cut down there really is a marked improvement and they had reached the heartbreaking stage of rockbottom like you described above. I hope you keep posting on here for support and keep in touch with the Gamcare counsellors. Also keep reading back your old posts and that often helps. With finances it is sometimes a good idea to give someone else control so they can see what you are spending - sounds like a pain, I know, but it really is a deterrent. I hate to see young families broken with this problem and really wish you and your family luck for the future.
Hi Jim24,
Yeah, it was very much an eye opener, when sitting in casualty, that I'd got so low, and done something so very stupid. I spent most of the day in bed yesterday, and have realised that I can be better than this, so I've self cancelled at the Casino, and yes, I'm going to need to lay off the booze as well.
Let me know how you are getting on, would be good to chat with somebody.
Good luck Harlequin and Jim. Glad you are talking about cutting back on the drink. If you read posts on here it is possible to get your life back on track. I know life can be a pig sometimes and it seems near on impossible to see the light at the end of the tunnel but if you can clear your heads a little it makes it easier for you to make plans for that better life. Take care of yourselves.
Hello Harlequin and Jim24,
It is good that you're considering how to take better care of yourselves and your recoveries. If either of you feel like talking to an adviser on our freephone, we are on the line everyday and we can give you information about local support like counselling appointment services, if you would like to know more about support in your area.
Take care,
Forum admin.
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