Need help...

Hi rs7.

The first bit is the hardest bit, admitting it. It's clichéd I know, but it's true.

The next bit is surrounding yourself with the tools and support you need to beat the c**P out of it.

Step 1. Sign up to GamStop. 

Its a case of filling in a form that will  automatically self exclude you from all UK registered online gambling sites. 

Step 2.  Tell your girlfriend, friends, family that you are struggling.

This is a bloody hard one. 

I nearly lost everything. Like you, I have a young one at home, and I'll admit it's not been easy since - but you can't imagine the sense of relief it will give you being honest with those who you love., Knowing that they have your back.

Step 3. Sign up to GA, counselling, or both. 

Step 4.

Stay positive. Realise that this will be with you forever, it's a hard slog, but it will get better! I promise you it will.

You've done the hard bit. Everyone here is in the same boat. We've all got your back.

Good luck and we'll done for coming here 

All the best

Matt

Totally normal and I imagine all of us went through it.  Well done for being here (thats step 1) and asking for help (thats step 2).  Both big progress already.

Now the tough bit:  You need to stop.  Put blocks in place (gamstop etc), realise that whats done is done and whats gone is gone, and that you can't gamble again. I'd say you need to get out of an environment where gambling is easy, but that's your call.

Make the choice to stop and challenge yourself to stick to it. Do it for yourself, your mrs and your son.

Find a hobby and make that your new obsession.  Something healthy or productive is obviously a good choice!

I'm over 130 days gamble free after 20+ years of chucking my money down the drain and I feel better, less embarrassed, no longer ashamed and in fact, I feel proud.  I challenge you to do the same as its clear to me that you want to.  Do you really want to?  

I wish someone had told me this 20 years ago, but unlike you i wasnt brave enough to admit i had a problem or to ask for help.  You have and be proud that you have.  I look forward to watching you make progress mate.

Hi Matt, thank you for your advice. It honestly means the world to me right now!

I will definitely sign up to gamstop after I’ve replied here.

As for telling my girlfriend, I think I’m going to hold off on that for a moment. It broke her heart when I told her about the coke addiction. She was there for me every step of it but, I could see it really hurt her. I’m not sure she could handle another addiction so soon after getting past that one. I am 100% going to tell my dad though, he’s amazing and would make sure I get the help I need and when I’m further along I will tell my girlfriend. I’d rather give her the news of me being in a better place and fighting this already, then at rock bottom like I am now if you can understand that mate. I don’t want to risk losing her or my son and she doesn’t suspect anything as of yet so I don’t have to lie to her. Just tell her and be open about it when I think we’ll both be ready for it!

I’ve been reading today about people attending GA or counselling and how it helped but how do you get this help? Is it through this site?

I am positive right now bud but realise I’m not even day 1 of being off gambling yet! Long road ahead but gonna work my b**t of to stay away! 

Thank you so much for your kind words mate! Honestly didn’t know what to expect signing up here, didn’t realise how much people wanted to help others! It’s made my day!

R

Thanks for your advice!

It really did feel strange signing up here but it’s been a great thing so far mate!

I’m definitely signing up for gamstop. It was only the other week when my account got blocked on skybet and I rang them about it that I thought it was getting bad. My mrs was next to me and the guy asked me if I wanted to unblock considering I’d lost £1000 since opening my account with them (that’s over about a year) and my mrs turned to me and said ‘what the hell’ that I thought to myself ‘that’s one of many sites I use, the real amount altogether must be over £5000’. That really hit me to be honest but I didn’t stop then. Gamstop is going to be key for me I think!

I’m honestly not worried about where I work because I never get an urge because of being there to play. I mostly only deal with horses and dog bets too, which really isn’t my thing. My struggle is with the slots online and I’d never play those robbing FOBTs!!!

I really am ready to stop now mate. I wanna take my mrs and son to the places they dream of! I wanna have all the best memories with them, not them have ones of us doing nothing because I’ve got no money or me being an a**e to them because I’m angry about losing. It’s time now bud.

I really have been thinking about getting myself in the gym. Get a healthy addiction of getting into shape and doing thing properly for my body. I’m going to look more into this I think.

Wow 130 days! You should be over the moon with that mate! I don’t even know you but I feel proud of you haha. I hope in 130 days time, you’ll be 260 days clean sharing it with me and I’ll be 130 days clean sharing it with you!

Thank you so much mate. I really hope this is it and you can watch on, as I beat this.

R

Last night was an absolute bust guys. I tried to sign up for gamstop twice but, I wasn’t getting a verification email. I tried the live chat on there to see if I could get it sorted and the guy was helpful but, I didn’t receive an email from him straight away with the registration form. This lead me to convince myself it was a sign to gamble one more time before I quit for good. 

WHY IS THIS SO HARD?!

I’ve got over drugs for god sake but I can’t stop myself from playing some slots!!!!

Feel like I’m at the bottom of a hole right now and I can’t get out. Never felt so low.