Gambled nearly £4000 on credit cards in the matter of 30 days. Have a very low income. Don’t know how I am ever going to get out of this mess. I have no one to talk to, I’m so ashamed. I have a young son and he doesn’t deserve this, I am a failure of a parent and all I want to do is end this nightmare. I have a boyfriend who is in debt himself and trying so hard to pay it off each month then you get me racking up an amount of money I will never be able to afford back which makes me feel even worse. Feel as if my life will never be able to move forward. All of my family hate debt and gambling, which makes me feel like such a bad person and although it’s nothing to do with them I can’t but help feel like I’ve let them down also. Never want to gamble again.
Welcome to the forum Kaykay and thank you for sharing your situation. We are sorry that things are so difficult for you right now and that you feel alone in all this.
It is totally understandable that you are feeling the way you are, but an addiction to gambling doesn’t make you a bad person. Many of our forum posters can testify to being in a similar situation, where they once felt they will never be able to move forward, but with support, like them you will be able to.
There is a lot of help and support out there for you, including support to help you overcome your urges to gamble as well as support to help you with your debt. I recognise that at this time you feel you have no one to talk to and recommend you give one of our team a call on either our Helpline on 0808 8020 133 or on NetLine, both are available from 8am -midnight. They will be able to support you with your feelings as well as offer practical support and advice, including some free 1:1 treatment support if you feel that would benefit you.
Hi,
I was in your situation also with a low income. I blew £5000 in total. Get in contact with Stepchange, they were brilliant with me. You're not a failure. Everyone makes mistakes, it's life. You have to absolutely accept that the money is gone and you won't win it back. Chasing losses is the betting industry's bread and butter. Gambling is aimed at low income families anyway. That's why in ghost towns there are half a dozen betting shops in the same road.
Hope you get yourself sorted.
Stuart
Hi and welcome to the forum
You get out of this by getting out of the prison of addiction your mind has created. You have become a drug addict to gambling and it can be made history
With help and advice you will see the way. Your mental heath is the most important thing by far. You can only pay back what you can afford when all other living expenses are accounted for. You will need financial advice but the gambling must stop now. You will need to be living on an allowance...does your partner gamble?
Its an openess and honesty you are looking for, a serenity a resetting of the mind. Gambling was never the answer to what you seek. Yes life is tough for the majority of people and 99.99% of them will never win a lottery amount for an easy life
with the right advice your confusion will clear and you wont pile on stress thats not needed...the money has gone you are still here and you can have a quality of life within your means
Im serious that a born again moment and abstention is the only way. Continued gambling has deep new lows in store.
So you can either wallow in the depression or start to take the steps out of this...you cant change time but you can make a better future
Best wishes from everyone on the forum
Hi everyone and thanks for your replies, I truly appreciate them. Just an update on how I’m feeling now... I’ve accepted that the money is gone and the only way this debt is going to disappear is through some strict discipline. I’m going to try and pay it off as fast as I can because luckily it’s all 0% apr credit cards... for now. I’ve worked out that after bills and basic food essentials I won’t have much to live on but I feel that is my punishment, which strangely makes me feel better, as if I should be punished. I have had no feelings forcing me to gamble as of yet... I’ve come to the realisation that I can not and should not gamble ever again as I will never, ever win.
Thanks again!
Hi.. and well done for seeking support to help yourself stop gambling. I just wanted to comment on your last post because I totally relate to the mindset... ie gambling and self-punishment. However at the end of the day all that has happened is that you have made a mistake but you can forgive yourself without further self-punishment. Remember that gambling is designed to be addictive and many many otherwise decent and kind people have been drawn into its web.
My advice for what its worth is to start paying your debts back but at a slower rate so you can just live normally.. without additional pressure. There are no quick fixes. Concentrate on putting some barriers into place. I presume that its all online. If so sign up to Gamstop for 5 years (the max)... it will stop you signing up to online casino's.... because although I commend your determination never to gamble again, addiction does tend to be stronger than willpower alone. I am a living example to that.
Keep reading and writing. It does help
Regards.. S.A
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