I am new and feeling very down at the moment

I’m sorry your feeling down. The Great thing is you’ve taken a step towards the right direction. I’m new here to! I’m a gambling addict have been for 4years. The people on here seem really supportive and are very welcoming. Xx 

Morning, 

You're taking the first leap by self excluding yourself, so it only gets better from there. 

Now, just prioritise your bills first. Pay it off earlier than its suppose to come out.

Good luck 

Hello @evita34,

Welcome to the GamCare Forum and for sharing your post.

I am sorry you are going through a really tough time at the moment, you are not alone in the way gambling can occupy daily lives for people. There is plenty of support available to you and you have made a really positive step today by posting your story and reaching out.

Please feel free to contact the GamCare Helpline on 0808 8020 133 or Netline to explore the additional support available to you. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week if you would like to talk to one of the GamCare HelpLine advisers.

Could I also give the details for some organisations that can offer some free debt advice.

National Debtline – 0808 808 4000, www.nationaldebtline.org

StepChange – 0800 138 1111, www.stepchange.org

Keep posting and sharing

Regards

Dan 

Forum Admin

Hi

You shouldn't feel too down , you've noticed you've got a problem and self excluded , now you can start breathing again , the debt i found stepchange really good and organise what is affordable, everything can always be sorted.

Dear Evita, welcome to the Forum,

I know you feel you have let your family down and you feel helpless, but what you have done by coming here is something very positive and a big step in the right direction, so you should be proud of yourself.

What's done is done, you can't change the past but you can certainly do a lot with your future. Just take one day and one bill at a time, try not to overthink these issues or let things get on top of you (easier said than done, I very much appreciate). Whilst things aren't great at the moment, they could be a lor worse if you hadn't taken this step to recognize where you are headed, and that's a good thing.

Be strong, be positive and try to plan a way forward where you are free of this. A new hobby, a new way of life, a better, healthier existence. You can't win, anything you ever win will always go back to these people, it is "stake", it isn't real money because you will never be able to spend it, it is just temporary until it goes back.

Take care, you can do this, I believe in you

Thank you so much for your reply.

I can't believe how gambling took over my life in just few months-sometimes I would be awake all night to gamble.It also took away time from my kids, partner and friends. 

Thats how I got addicted: I won about £200 just playing with bonus money and of course,I loved it, it felt great. I started to have a craving for it...

Do you remember when you started to gamble(only reply if you feel comfortable to do so)?

Yes,I found this site very supportive and so happy I came across it.

Hi Ryan,

I really appreciate your reply.

I wish I have newer started to gamble as it seems that it got some kind of control over me-I felt that I had to do it. The winnings of few hundred pounds at the beginning(from free bonus) felt so good (like money for free)but before I knew it I started to buy max tickets per games, loose it and do it again. 

Self -exclusion of the gambling sites worked straight away and that definitely got me more motivated. 

Hopefully I can do this. I have self-excluded for 6 months but wonder if a gambler is a gambler for life and if I should exclude myself for longer period of time?

Hi,

Thank you for your supportive message; I hope that I can manage to sort it out financially (which is my main worry at the moment) and be able to resist gambling in the future. I have never imagined that the gambling can make you feeling so down, upset,desperate...

All these adverts make it look like fun...

Hi Dan,

Thank you for your message.

It's my first day without gambling I 3 months. Self exclusion has helped a lot and Im now concentrating on trying to pay my bills and being debt free. 

I will keep you updated on my progress (hopefully)?

Thank you very much,I hope I can do it. Its my first day of gambling free in a while.

Hi Evita and welcome to the forum.

I promise you two things. You are better than gambling and your life will improve when you are free from it.

Youve seen what it has done to you. They sold you a lie...a highly addictive drug! 

Please tell people close that you love and trust. There is a way through this. Openness and honesty are key foundations and there is no shame in admitting to this addiction.

People want to help when you are straight with them. You must stop the gambling right now. Its a mugs game and a scam. It's certainly not a get it back later scheme so don't give then another penny of your money.

Best wishes from everyone on the forum

Posted by: Evita34

Thank you so much for your reply.

I can't believe how gambling took over my life in just few months-sometimes I would be awake all night to gamble.It also took away time from my kids, partner and friends. 

Thats how I got addicted: I won about £200 just playing with bonus money and of course,I loved it, it felt great. I started to have a craving for it...

Do you remember when you started to gamble(only reply if you feel comfortable to do so)?

Yes,I found this site very supportive and so happy I came across it.

The day I turned 18 I walked straight into a casino, currently 27 now. 

Posted by: Evita34

Thank you so much for your reply.

I can't believe how gambling took over my life in just few months-sometimes I would be awake all night to gamble.It also took away time from my kids, partner and friends. 

Thats how I got addicted: I won about £200 just playing with bonus money and of course,I loved it, it felt great. I started to have a craving for it...

Do you remember when you started to gamble(only reply if you feel comfortable to do so)?

Yes,I found this site very supportive and so happy I came across it.

I was 16 at the time and had just started an apprenticeship. When I got my first wage packet I went to the local pub that Friday evening, my auntie was in and playing the fruit machine. I bought her a drink and started playing the fruit machine with her. At first I loved playing them for the game but very soon it became all about the money I could win and before I even knew it about trying to win back the money I had lost. From there it escalated from fruit machines, to horse racing at the bookies and then eventually onto in play football on my mobile. I'm now 38 and really wish I could go back and tell the 16 year old me to leave the fruit machines alone.

You are very welcome and yes, self-exclude for life, but know that there will be similar temptations at some point. Try and reconcile the fact in your mind my friend that winning money is poison to you, it is not a good thing; your biggest win ever will be your worst nightmare, because it will make you crave more of the same at higher stakes and then losing, which will make you start spending money you don't have.

We all have to accept certain things in life which we are effectively allergic to, whether orally or mentally. You win, you crave more at higher stakes until you lose which leads to borrowing. You lose, and you face soul-wrenching desperation to recoup what you have lost. However you feel, you can't escape this equation, you can't change it; it's a lose-lose scenario my friend