Hi Everyone,
I'm a new member on here - This is the first time I guess I've ever really sat down and written to reach out to other people.
I'm 28, I started gambling back when I was around 18 - It started in the bookies on the FOBT's - Initially on roulette and blackjack at the time. I was young, naive, and thought that it was a way to make a bit of extra cash, what's life without risk right? Anyway, fast forward 2 years to around 20 and I had got myself into a hole, doing some pretty lowlife things to fund my habit. I proceeded to get myself into debt, and then came clean to my support network, who were of course angry and disappointed, but more importantly they wanted to get me clean so to speak.
I went for a few years gamble free (the odd flutter) but nothing damaging. I've always enjoyed football so sports betting has been something that I've done throughout, although to be honest (I know people will probably doubt this) but that side of betting for me I've always had under control somewhat.
This year however, with Covid-19 and the work from home situation, I've basically hit a downward spiral again. However, this time it's on the online slots. They say it's one of the worst forms of betting because it's ultimately a game designed simply to rip us whilst enticing us with it's dazzling game play and catchy music, yet those hooked still go back time and time again.
I'm not getting myself into debt (just yet) but I am wasting a lot of money on a regular basis.
Are other people struggling or having old demons coming back to them this year with lock-down and boredom levels rising?
I feel like the hardest thing is to firstly talk to someone, because people who aren't gambling addicts honestly just don't have a clue how our minds work and think it's easy. I've read a lot into the psychology, watched horror stories of former gamblers, and tried to make the right steps, but I only ever end up back at square one after a period of time.
Are there any recovered gambling addicts who actually have advice on how to stop and if so how did you go about it?
I can feel myself slipping and I just want to try and pull myself out before it gets too late...
I can totally relate, last 2 months have been very stressful and I found myself chasing the bonus games on slots for the possible big win.
im in the same situation, need to pull up before I nosedive
Hi and Welcome to the forum.
Yes we understand and you are not alone in being vunerable to this powerful addiction.
The lockdowns have affected the mental health of most people to some degree. Its being talked about but not enough in my opinion. I understand that its going to be a strong trigger for devil may care behaviour. People will be smoking, drinking eating and gambling more as a result.
Isolation and gambling are extremely dangerous partners and that is what this virus has created
These activities are escape mechanisms or comfort blankets from stress and foreboding.....only they are SHORT TERM shots in the arm and bring heavy consequences.
When you do start a full recovery you will double your focus that online gambling allows them into your home 24/7. Consider these pushers as raiders of your home and you need to get that blocked and your gadgets monitored.
Now you do also need to speak to non gamblers that you love and trust. That is because you need reality check after reality check. A gambling session only makes sense to an ill and addicted mind. To them it will sound like you're telling them aliens beamed down to the bottom of the garden...met some fairies and leprechauns who offered you a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow.
Its interesting that we thought it was a way to make a bit of cash. The truth is exactly the opposite way around on those odds. The gambling dens want your cash and they get it. Its the classic gamblers delusion but machine players in particular are enticed by the flashing lights images and lies.
You will feel a surge of pride in a born again moment...The door to gambling is clearly wide open to you so TELL PEOPLE CLOSE and get some help to save the clean money you have left.
I understand that not every gambling method has the same trigger but the problem there is that it keeps you in a gambling world and I think it makes people drift over to the slots and rapid gambling when other gambling methods seem slower.
Please tell people the money you have lost...tell us if you can...because you need to focus that you cant ride losses like that and its money chucked down a grid. Think of a kerb grating and your crisp new notes from a servicetill being dropped down there infront of your family... a young child crying because what you are doing makes no sense
Its a complex psychological addiction...it goes deep I wont go into it all now but its essentially a drug addiction.
Are you ready? To fight this addiction you need the cold turkey of being monitored...dont kid yourself that any gaps in gambling are a sign of control...when I gambled I binged until everything was gone and I felt suicidal afterwards
Its a progressive illness so if you dont stop now there will come a day when you are massively in debt and everything is gone. Only its not just your possessions...your career, pride and relationships end up out of the window.
You see what every addicted gamble does is create a comfort zone until its too late. It often takes a rick bottom moment to see a chink of light. Dont let your rock bottom moment get any worse because it will
You must pull yourself out of this...its not a case of casually trying. Beating this addiction takes big steps which are not too hard if you start with the right mindset
Dont waste another moment..start acting on the tried and trusted advice
Best wishes from everyone on the forum
@Jonjo - I'm sorry to hear that you are in a similar position to me. The big hits are one in a million (we both probably already know this). I've booked into a local GA meeting that I'm going to attend tonight. I've been to one GA meeting in the past and it was a really harrowing thing to hear the stories in person. It could be with seeing if you have a local meeting you could go to aswell at some stage?
@joydivider - Thankyou for your powerful words and logical explanation of everything. It always seems obvious when someone explains it like that yet taking the words to action can prove to be a much harder task. It starts today for me, just have to take it one day and step at a time. Thank you.
yea at the start it was tough going think i done about 300 in ,in about 2 hours back in march
luckily i banned myself from online there and then otherwise i would probably be skint now
We are available 24 hours a day, every day of the year. You can also contact us for free on 0808 80 20 133. If you would like to find out more about the service before you start, including information on confidentiality, please click below. Call recordings and chat transcripts are saved for 28 days for quality assurance.
