Hi all, so I'm very new to this and don't often share my life but I'm struggling so here goes. I remember the day (ish) my gambling started, I just got back from a tour in Afghanistan and pretty much the first thing I do is turn my laptop on and started playing slots until all my money had gone, I kept it a secret and kept afloat with loans and credit cards for a few years. I stopped after about 5 years and nobody knew, I got divorced a year after and it started again, right up until 08-oct-2018 when I had a moment of clarity and came clean to my new wife after she saw a loan application, I thought it would be so easy to stop as I truly did not think gambling was addictive but I was so wrong, yesterday was the worst day ever as I just felt so depressed for no reason. I've gotten into debt, made my wife angry and hurt her, wasted thousands of pounds and hours of playing. Hopefully I'm going to a meeting tonight as I don't want another day like that.
Sign up to Gamstop. I was in your position with online slots, and really struggled ... self-excluding, rejoining etc etc etc. I was in an awful state. Gamstop Just took the ability to gamble away from me, I can’t join any online sites, it’s great. I’m not 3 months gamble free, no overdraft, with a plan to get my debts paid off. It’s so nice not to have to hide my activities, hide my iPad screen, lie about money etc.
It’s a journey, and it’s really hard at times, but taking the first steps is great
Thanks Horall, I signed up to that yesterday and went to my first meeting last night.
It’s not an easy path, and I think we have all felt Shane, guilt, despair, and that horrible self-destruct feeling. You are not on your own with this, you are not going to get judged here.. or mollycoddled for that matter. You will get honesty & support.
Mine all came to a head in December last year, when I was stood at the train station and genuinly thought that the only way out was to step in front of a train. That night I told my husband, and stopped for a bit, then started again ... got the same old horrible feelings, then signed up to Gamstop and haven’t gambled since. I feel like a new person ... 2 years away from paying my debts off, but gamble free, and it’s good.
Horall wrote:
Sign up to Gamstop. I was in your position with online slots, and really struggled ... self-excluding, rejoining etc etc etc. I was in an awful state. Gamstop Just took the ability to gamble away from me, I can’t join any online sites, it’s great. I’m not 3 months gamble free, no overdraft, with a plan to get my debts paid off. It’s so nice not to have to hide my activities, hide my iPad screen, lie about money etc.
It’s a journey, and it’s really hard at times, but taking the first steps is great
Dear Peter,
if you have difficulty completing the form online give them a ring on 0800 138 6518, they are open 8AM to Midnight 7 days a week. They will be able to advise you how to go forward.
Wishing you all the best,
Eva
Forum Admin
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.
