No real help for gamblers

I know what you mean, and gambling is very addictive and is designed to be so.

I didn't find my gamcare sessions to be that helpful other than to have a place to vent my frustrations. Ultimately though I don't think I was really ready to give up gambling yet and deep down didn't really want to.

I'm finding now a little different, rather than wanting to stop feeling bad about the problems my gambling has caused, I have better come to accept it and just genuinely want to stop now.

What blocks do you have in place for yourself at the moment to prevent you from being able to gamble?

No real help or no miracle cure? You’ve been a member here coming up 7 years & have barely written any posts...If that is anything to go by along with your short but bitter opener, I would hazard that you are wanting something that doesn’t exist.

What qualifies you to say that talking about underlying issues isnt the answer...I know an awful lot of people in active recovery who would say that that is just one small part of learning how to manage our condition!

Instead of ranting, why not try engaging...If you tell us what steps have you actually taken, we may be able to better support you. I too am addicticted to fruit machines, I just don’t play them anymore. My addiction is my problem, not the gambling industry’s...When I stopped blaming others & took responsibility, I found help, it didn’t find me. If you want recovery enough, you will find what you need - ODAAT

Hi fobtfc.

I understand the despair and confusion because nobody is going to wave a magic wand if you are not fully ready to stop and put the work into recovery. A lot of it comes from within and it will take a period of cold turkey because you finally know its right to abstain.

You will have seen what gambling does to you. Its just like any substance where you must see the light and be determined to stop. There is help and it is about finding out who you are. Underlying issues are very important in this as the addiction is often way more than the money involved.

Gambling creates addicts and it comes down to your decision whether you can take it any more. It made me suicidal. I had to stop and I finally realised what I needed to do to fight an extremely dangerous addiction.

Best wishes from everyone on the forum

The addiction is the symptom of the underlying problem. Put another way, it highlights what’s already there. Put a third way, taking the gambling out of problem gambling leaves the problem.

The answers can be found within you. Take the help that’s out there and your life can change.

If not, then more of the same will result in more of the same.

CW

Hi Fobtfc,

You might not want to hear it but I have to echo what's been said above.

There are arguements that more should be done in terms of regulation, responsible gambling etc but, be honest, would a member of bookies staff asking you "Don't you think you've played enough?" achieve anything other than worsen your mood?

As gamblers we are crying out to apportion blame to a third party, the government for lack of regulation, the bookies staff, the games for being 'rigged', but all we are doing is avoiding the core problem which is the addiction. There is loads of help available out there (and right here!) but you have to want to find it and embrace advice. It won't all work for you and all recoveries are different but you don't know until you try exactly what will work for you.

Bitterness and anger are common but to aim them at anyone other than yourself is, in my opinion, denile. If you are genuinely ready to give up then get blocks in place, speak to GamCare and form a stategy. Stop being a victim, accept that you've messed up and need help and then accept and embrace it.

Good luck

Phil