Hey guys,
I signed up to the GamCare website yesterday and thought I should introduce myself.
I am problem gambler and a few weeks ago that hit me. I finally realized that it had became a problem and that I needed to do something about it.
It all started about 3 years ago when I turned 18. I joined up to an online sports gambling site and was betting on pretty much everything I could find. Football , Horse Racing , Cricket , Tennis even on the outcome of Darts Tournaments.
The problem started to progress as I started going onto poker sites. That's when I was losing and trying to chase my losses. Playing with money I didn't even have. The debt started to pile up then and ended up being in £2000's worth of debt. I got a bank loan for that and I am still paying that off and for a few months I wasn't gambling anywhere near as much. I wasn't getting myself into any more debt. I was only gambling with what I could afford.
Around that time , my ex's brother admitted he was a problem gambler and even then it didn't occur to me that I was in the same boat. I just carried on blissfully unaware of my problem
A few months ago the problem came back and I got into the same trouble again except this time I got involved (stupidly) with a payday loan company and got stuck in the seemingly endless cycle of paying off the loan then having another payday loan to pay for my car , phone and paying off my existing bank loan.
The day before yesterday I finally told someone that I have a problem. I told my girlfriend about it after weeks of contemplating whether to at all, I was worrying that she would run a mile the second I told her. Thankfully my girlfriend has been understanding and supportive.
It has started to make me really feel down at the moment as well. I find myself constantly thinking about money problems and its even starting to affect me at work. Usually I really enjoy my work but the last few weeks the knock on effect has made me just hate even getting up and coming to work let alone be there.
Thank you for reading.
Dan.
2 Days without Gambling 🙂
Hi Dan, welcome to the Forum and well done for posting what you have here,
Relapse occurs most of the time because of the relentless nature of thinking about money problems and past losses; winning seems like the only solution but in actual fact, it would be the worst case scenario because it would make you crave more of the same at higher stakes than before.
It won't always be the way my friend - I have stopped for around six years after gambling for twenty; I can almost guarantee that you will feel stronger and more positive in a few weeks or months - if you "ride the storm", then you have everything to gain.
Most people (myself included), join here when it is far too late - although you have incurred heavy losses, you still have the support of yor family and girlfriend - next time around, it is unlikely to be the same so value this opportunity my friend - imagine if you stopped now and looked back on this time in five years, no doubt you would look back with a huge sigh of relief.
The alternative is doing damage that may be irreversable; things are hard now but remember this time - don't let it go, remind yourself of what you went through if you feel tempted again. Nothing is worth the way you feel right now.
JamesP
Hi dan
Well done for getting to this point. You're not alone we've all been there / are there. For me it's only been a few weeks and like you I have debt involved and my problem was also with online sites. If you've not done it, try to take steps to self exclude yourself from sites, it's a bit scary cos you "I can't play" but if you can, give it a go as a start to something better. I've found that sharing on here as often as possible has helped, if I get a thought to play I either post or read. Everyone's different so find what works for you. Take a moment to feel proud of the huge steps you've taken in telling your girlfriend and coming on here. Take small steps towards a big change and deal with each day at a time. Only ask as much from yourself as you can manage and ask others for help as much as you can. Feel proud and be brave.........Ali
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