I've posted from the beginning now and again.
For every single person reading posting or just finding here - WELL DONE.
My journey started here in jan 14. For the second time I hit rock bottom but this time I knew I needed help. You can search my stories.
I'm extremely proud to say I'm 8 months free.
Although financially challenging, I've had to a do a DMP, for me the right thing admitting, facing and dealing with my gambling problem has turned my life around. I made use of the gamcare counselling service not really my thing on paper BUT one of the best things I've ever done. There's no judgement just help and my husband even went for a session to try to understand.
It's the small things that really tell the tale, having my haircut, getting a maccyd s for my boy, buying my husband a pint. And the freedom from the lies and the guilt.
To find here you're facing that there maybe something up, in your own time at your own speed and only for you read post comment and ask for help.
For me it all started here and it's turned my life around.
Well done, I've only just joined camcare today and hopefully I can't do what you have managed to do. You give me hope.
Well done. I joined last week so it's early days for me.
Tomorrow is pay day when the gambling usually starts.
I don't really know how I'm going to react until I see my bank balance!? But as low as I feel reading threads like yours gives people like myself hope for the future.
Thanks for sharing.
Chris
Congrats
I'm still early days day 15 here . Already noticing a difference though. Like you say it's the little things like being able to go to supermarket and not be restricted to the very basics. I am also putting 5 - 10 quid in to a saving account every time I have wanted to gamble. That saving account is sitting at 83 quid just now in just 15 days. Christmas should be so much easier for us this year. It just feels great to be moving forward and no longer stuck on the reels of a slot machine spinning out of control 🙂
Well Done
I also hit rock bottom in January and finally admitted my problem to my family, it was the hardest thing I have ever had to do. However, after doing it I felt great and my family were really supportive.
I didn't gamble from mid January until two weeks ago when I played on my phone and then out of no where I played again losing cosiderable money. I really thought admitting it had got me over it but obviously not. Any advice for me?
I am a new member starting on here today
It's been forever since I posted. I have only now all this time on really really felt that I wanted to let it all out. I'm now 17 months gamble free, a year into paying off my debts. Gambling, very occasionally, does cross my mind but it's become a fleeting thought and I question the thought and think "really?....." Sorry but from kent lol! I'm finding the hardest part is my husband dealing with it, I came clean about all the debt....I've no idea what I wasted....only the debt caused because of it. Sometimes, or maybe a lot of the time, I feel he uses it against me. I find this really unfair, I understand that the time money and concentration was badly used moments we could have been together but after 15 years I'd have like to hope he understood me better. Right, personal rant over, but to an extent maybe others have partners/wives/husbands feeling similar?..... It's a new side of it to me, I suppose for me telling the truth, dealing with the debt and us moving forward, I did not for one moment to reflect on how I'd affected the people around me that I love so much. I think I thought, "they're ok, I can see them, they're walking and talking" and didn't take the time, until now, nearly a year and a half on, now I'M in a better position personally to take into account the affect its had on those around me.
Massive well done. And it does give lots of us hope. Iv had my rock bottom twice now and never again. Iv finally realised I need to deal with the reasons I gamble. Admitting the problem isnt enough. It wasn't about chasing money as I thought it was. It was escapism from a bullying relationship and a need to be happy and loved. Iv dealt with that by finally getting the courage to leave. I'm getting help from my doctor and in line for counselling and therapy. It's early days but I No longer feel like I WANT to gamble. I have installed blockers tho and self excluded from everywhere I can think of just incase I get weak.
Ali I hate to say hun but Ur husband needs to get counselling himself to learn to forgive you. My other half couldn't forgive my gambling and for 3 years he showed no understanding but belittled me and made me feel worthless. I ended up gambling again because even when I wasn't I felt No benefit. My oh simply couldn't forgive Me and never will. Don't let your partner treat u the same indefinitely. U don't deserve it. Compulsive gambling is an illness. An addiction and u r not a bad person. He needs to deal with it now and show u support x
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