Ok well I have only been gambling for a couple of months but it has already got out of hand. It all started when my husband left me after 26 years of marriage and our youngest daughter tried to commit suicide, she is 19 and was thank fully not successful in this attempt.
I turned to online slot games and bingo and have on about 3 occassions used all of my salary and then struggled for the rest of the month. I have now self excluded myself from all of the sites but again used up all my salary before doing so. This month is going to be a struggle and I am not sure what I am going to do yet so any useful advice would be really great. I'm not eating and I'm not sleeping very well and still have to get up and go to work every day and I am really angry and ashamed of myself and that I have let it get so bad in such a short amount of time.
I cant tell my husband as we arent really talking at the moment and he will go mad as he is very much the sort of person I should have been four month ago, if you havent got the money then you cant have it sort of thing. He doesnt own a credit card and gets the cash out if he wants to buy something, he rarely uses his debit card unless it is something online, anyway I feel like I am drowning and its all my own fault!
Hi.
You're in the same place as me. I've only been gambling 6 weeks and managed to get through 6 grand. Most of that in the last week. I told my sister this morning which has helped as I don't want to let her down. I know I was never ever going to be able to keep my winnings, they just went straight back in. I'm hoping that although 6 grand is a horribly huge amount of money, that in the long term if I am successful in quitting, I'll be able to see it more positively. I know it could have been much worse. Is there anyone you can tell?
Lots of luck to you xxx
Hi Minnx
Its definately wrapped up in escape gambling in an attempt to make you feel better and lose the world for a while.
Only its never the answer as you know. Im glad you have excluded in your moment of strength and you must work on that to make sure its watertight. Anything you could possibly think of joining must be blocked. When you have shut them out you can take deep breaths and begin to work on a healthy mind again. It does come and I dont think about gambling now in the sense that I would ever do it again.
Take the fight to them because you dont want them in your home. Gamblers ignore the odds to seek dopamine and escape. Its not an income scheme and you have seen the results of that. Its not even fun when you boil it down. Its just stress adding to stress.
What you have is honesty and openness so talk through your life with a doctor or a counsellor. Its linked to depression and life weighs hard on all of us at times. You should tell people close but I dont know your family situation.
I promise that you will put this behind you and wonder why you ever did it. It just requires a reboot of your mind so you get on with your life and wholesome activities.
Best wishes from everyone on the forum
My gambling started 3 years ago after I lost my first baby at 6months old. I don't know why I turned to gambling but it had nearly destroyed my life and my marriage. I have not gambled in 3weeks and it feels great although I still feel so guilty about the money I have lost over the past few years and the debt I have got my family into. Only my husband knows and he is really supportive but as he says there's only so many times he can forgive me. I am determined this time I will never go on another gambling site as long as I live!!!
HI Minnx
I am sorry to hear you are having such a traumatic time but would like to welcome you to the forum.
Your daughter's attempted suicide and the end of your marriage must be a very difficult time for you. Its understandable that you feel as though you are drowning. If you are having problems eating and sleeping you could contact your GP for some additional help.
You have already self excluded so well done for blocking all your gambling sites online. But I would also like to mention that using a blocking software can block you from all other sites on the internet for up to a year. See links http://www.gamblock.com http://www.netnanny.com
Finally I would like to add that shame and anger are normal reactions that you can experience when you feel out of control with your gambling. Please consider using our free counselling service for some practical help and a listening ear on 0808 8020 133
Hopefully it will make a difference and you may feel that you can cope a little better.
All the best
Cade
Forum Admin
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