So Friday was the day I signed up to Gamstop, the first step I've taken. I now cannot gamble online but the want for it is still there very much. I've always been in denial until now.
Within the first hour of being paid, saying to myself 'only £XX' then another deposit, after an hour I've wasted £XX, I win it back after another £XX wasted, I'm on a lucky streak, might as well keep going, I'll win again.... When that £XX balance turns to 0, the feeling of your stomach turning, full of guilt, self hate, wondering how your going to manage. Left with nothing. The past 2 years I've gambled much more than I can afford, using money I need to pay bills, having to ask family for handouts (without them knowing why of course) lying to them. Using credit cards to gamble, selling items on ebay so I have money to live. Spending hours upon hours on my phone wasting money, hiding away, no social life (due to no money) I would self exclude myself from sites, set limits, however I'd just find another site. Not caring how much I'd deposit because I'll get that big win, I have to, but no, never. Never did that ever happen.Â
I'm hoping some people can relate to this
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Yes I relate, that was more or less exactly what i use to do.
Gamstop pretty much stopped my online gambling in its tracks. It works. As I have suggested to others, individual self-exclusions is a big waste of time because there is always another gambling site. A blanket ban is what addicted gamblers need and that's what Gamstop does.
..and yes of course you will miss it, cos your addicted but over time the cravings will die down... but now you have a chance to get your life back.
All the best
I'd definitely suggest gamstop it stops online gambling instantly! I've still got issues with other forms of gambling but it's now one big area I can't gamble on nowÂ
100% relatable almost as if i'd wrote it myself! I'm in the same position racking up insane amounts of debt from online gambling and struggling to see a way out of it all. This time last year i had managed to clear all but a few thousand so of course my mind set out to keep going and unfortunately my luck swung the other way and I've managed to double where i already was at. I've self excluded myself from many sites only to join up to another when i think i can win big but the addiction takes over yet again. 3 days after payday i'm left with £20 for the month.. it's all getting too much. I haven't signed upto Gamstop just yet, that's the next step which i wish for the life of me i did a year ago.
I can relate totally to this . It's the worst feelingÂ
Hi Katie... have you done the Gamstop thing yet?
.... your gambling head won't want you to do it. Do it for 6 months if you can't bring yourself to do it for 5 years
Until recently I would never have thought of any of this used to see the ads on tv and think "yeah that's not for me " but all those feelings I think we all can relate too . I've only been gamble free for two weeks and its really hard on a day to day basis but with help and support we can all beat this addiction .
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All the best
K
Thank you for reading and commenting, it's almost a comfort reading these and finally being able to talk about it. Even after a week I feel better but maybe that's because I've self excluded myself with gamstop, but without it I'd never of given up.Â
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