I have been gambling for about 4 years. I have stopped and relapsed countless times, got in and out of debt 3 times and it’s now all come to an end, I’m in the most debt I’ve ever been in, my partner broke up with me and now I’m moving back home.
I am lucky to have a job and a family to lean on but it’s hard knowing I have wasted so much of my time and money and money I don’t have, and having to start again at 30.
I am struggling a lot with my mental health, I know it will be ok and I can overcome it, but it’s difficult to see how anything can be ok when I feel like I am at rock bottom. It feels very lonely and isolating.
Any advice on how to get through this? I am hanging on by a thread
Hello soph22,
Welcome to our GamCare Forum and thank you for sharing your experiences here with us.
It seems that you are reflecting a lot on your recovery journey where you have been able to stop at different times but have also had a few relapses along the way. We encourage you to continue this reflection and build on working a strong foundation for yourself on your recovery journey. It can be tough space to be in as so many emotions can overcome you as you try to come out of this and move forward. Well done for coming into this space again and reaching out for support.
We are here to support you and also provide a listening space to help you take action on how you can overcome this. We provide 1:1 support to help you explore these thoughts which you have described in your post and reflect on what you can do. Please do contact us through to our helpline to speak to one of our advisers for debrief or if you want to access 1 to 1 support through GamCare. The space hopefully will also provide you a space to talk to someone about your journey and go through your thoughts and reflections. Our helpline is open 24/7 and you can contact us via call on 0808 8020 133 or go through our website and chat to someone.
If you wish to access more peer to peer support then please do join our chatrooms too where you can connect with others going through a similar journey to yourself here: https://community.gamcare.org.uk/chatrooms/ .
Best wishes,
Brielle
Your story is the same as mine, with a few changes. I was 46 when I came clean to my wife. We separated, and I moved into my own place. Huge debts, starting again. Very similar.
Im 5 months gamble free and have never felt better. You can do this, you deserve this. Don’t think of this as a low point. Trust me, in a few months you will think of this as the turning point. The time when you finally became a normal adult. You will be responsible, you’ll have money (not much as debts come first), you’ll feel so much less stressed.
Take all the advice and help in here you can. Read everyone’s stories. It does help. Then make a pact with yourself. Gambling has ruined your life up until now. Time to take back control. No more skint months. No more ruined relationships. No more wasting time giving money away for nothing.
It can be done, and you can do it.
Stay strong 💪
@p6z38njbqm please take on board the amazing advice from Weirdfish, we are all on the same journey together.
We can beat this!!
I’m new and don’t know what I’m doing
Hi @h8tmybepv5 welcome to the Forum and thank you for sharing your thoughts. You can post your experiences that you are comfortable to share and offer advice to others as the Forum is a peer support space for those experiencing gambling related harms and maybe problem gambling behaviour.
Here is the link for the Guidelines when using forum and chatroom:Guidelines - GamCare
Also we have and Online Community Support where you can access additional support if needed GamCare - The leading provider of support for anyone affected by problem gambling in Great Britain
You can also access 121 support should you prefer to speak with a Practitioner in your local area and you can make a self referral with a Helpline Advisor via the National 24 hour helpline on 0808 802 0133.
There is also a self guide support tool programme Empower Me that you can access online that provides information and lived experiences testimonials from others who have experienced gambling related harms GamCare EmpowerMe
I would also encourage you to speak with your G.P. should you have any health concerns, you have taken a positive step in joining the GamCare Support Community.
Wishing you all the best on your recovery journey.
Best wishes
Rets
Forum Admin
Hi everybody I’ve lost everything
Hi Soph
Welcome to the forum. It's good that you found your way here.
First, I agree with everything Weirdfish has said. Additionally, I just want to point out to you that, you have got a job, you do have a family, so you won't have to be homeless and you are still young (I'm 51). These are the positives, not many people with gambling addiction enjoy. Build on these positives. Bluntly put, please forget about what you lost and start fresh, put all the gambling blocks to prevent temptation, and kick the gambling out of your life, because if you continue gambling, those positives above will surely be a thing of the past. Addiction doesn't care, who you are or what age you are, it will take every good thing from your life, please take control of your life, now. It's what counts. Now, today, not later. As long as you don't gamble today, you'll be alright to deal with other things in life.
Recovery takes time, please respect it and be patient. Stay with the Gamcare family, read people's struggles, and learn from them, that's what I do.
All the best,
Ergos
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