Hello all, I’m new here. I started gambling over 5 years ago mainly online, but registered with GamStop and stopped gambling for almost 5 years until…. My friend took me to the arcade and I started to go on my own around 6 months ago. Then I was talking about it to another friend about 6 months ago about going to the arcade and he suggested I register for a casino … big mistake.. first few months I wasn’t really playing then 2 months ago I won quite big so then that had me hooked. So for the past 2 months every time I got paid it went straight on the casino chasing that big win again. Every time I won big I’d just put the winnings straight back on eventually. I’d also put on a block for the month but then I’d just found another casino the same.
Today enough was enough. I got the casinos to block both my accounts for good and I have registered with gamban.
I am really struggling with not gambling today, I’m hoping things will ease and I’ll enjoy having money again. Talking to Maria on chat on here was amazing. I felt so much better and felt less alone. I’m going to take one step at a time. I’m also going on a hen do in April so it’s a good excuse to have one of my family members look after my spare cash. I’m bipolar as well so I don’t even need to gamble to waste money. Sometimes I waste money buying stupid things so they understand I have trouble saving. Sorry for the long post
Hello Jules,
Welcome to the GamCare Forum,
Well done for reaching out and introducing yourself. Thank you for giving us details of what types of gambling you would do and the impact it had. By understanding our gambling reasons and triggers we can tailor the strategies available to fit into our lives. You are not alone if you feel that you need to ‘re-learn’ to become comfortable around money in general again. You do not have to rush this process you can gradually do this when you have your gambling blocks in place such as GamStop, SENSE and BACTA (it sounds like you may have covered this with Maria on live web-chat). If you have not already perhaps ask your GP or therapist if they have any additional strategies specifically around over-spending during mania phases in bi-polar disorder.
Best Wishes for the peer support found here,
Louise
Forum Admin
@forum-admin thank you for your reply Louise. I’ve booked an appointment with a psychiatrist in a few months so I’ll ask him about strategies around the manic spending. My family are pretty good, I give my spare cash to my daughter too look after. Not that I’ve had much recently due to the gambling. But shall send her more over from now on.
thank you, Maria was brilliant and I had a phone call today from Aldo but unfortunately my phone wasn’t working so we’ve rearranged for next week as phone lines on my network are down today.
I’m struggling today but have been keeping busy, I’m used to gambling all evening so it’s good to get an early night instead. I’ll deep clean my bedroom tomorrow because I’ve neglected it
I don’t know why that posted so many times
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