Regrets, panic and ashamed!

Hi Lugarai7,

Wecome to the forum and well done for opening up to us about your situation.

There is a lot of help and support for you here Lugarai7. You will find the members of this Forum supportive and this gives you a great opportunity to start exchanging with others and say what's on your mind. Maybe you would like to join us in one of the chatrooms, too, where you can talk to others in real time with a moderator present. You can see the chat times here on the Forum.

Self exclusion from the gambling sites you use is a good starting point. Maybe you could also use blocking software, depending on the device you use or talk to your bank to see whether you can change your account to one which doesn't allow you to use your card online. If you need help with your finances you could contact Step Change which is a charity run organisation that offer free debt advice and debt management help http://www.stepchange.org/

I would also encourage you to contact our helpline and speak to an adviser who can offer advice and emotional support and help you to come to a decision about whether to open up to your husband about your finances. We also have counselling services available across the UK and you might be able to access one of these. An advisor on the Helpline 0808 80201330808 8020133Г‚ FREE or Netline http://www.gamcare.org.uk/support-and-counselling/frontline-services/netline will be able to help you and, if you wish, refer you to counselling, too.

Please know that you are not alone with this, Lugarai7. We are here to support you.

Best wishes

Forum Admin

Hi lugarai I am too a newbie with an addiction to online slots. I too have spent way more money than I can afford to lose in the hope i will win and feel good again. Loneliness is a horrible feeling and anything that takes that away, even for a short time is like a drug. Have a good read through the newbie forums and the diaries on here, this is helping me a lot to understand why I feel the need to go back time and again, as well as encouraging to read stories of peoples achievements. Don't beat yourself up, what is done is done you can't change that, you can however change the future and the support and help available here is wonderful. I am on the same path as you and together we can move forward x

Thank you Lulu-belle, I know i cannot turn back time but the guilt of hiding and losing lots of money is hunting me. 🙁 Thinking of seeking help coz i know this feeling is not healthy and affecting my love ones.

Same here hun you have taken the first step by admitting there is an issue and signing up. I am signing up with my doctor again after the weekend for counselling. I was offered it previously but didn't feel i wanted it then I didn't want to admit there was a problem. Might be worth looking into to see if its right for you.

All the best

Hi Lugarai,

Please, do contact the gamcare helpline, I think you would benefit, by opening up and going through your situation with them.

It's very difficult to give people advice on relationship, so I won't. I will just say this, sorting out your gambling problem and getting in control of the debts, it will give you a much clearer mind, to view your relationship and any changes you want to make. Drinking in excess, is just as destructive as gambling and I have first hand experience of just how destuctive it can be.

Even if you don't feel you want to make that call, please do stick around the forums and post, so much support available to you from the members here.

I can understand the slots addiction, it is like a drug.

Good luck.

I was exactly in your shoes this time a month ago, I have been gamble free for over 1 month now,I ended up telling my fiancГ©e I had a gambling problem but also told him a few home truths about his excess drinking Fri and Sat night, that didn't go down well. I think it made us both realize we both have addictions,I have stopped gambling and he is watching what he drinks (I wouldn't say he is an alcoholic ) Anyway your in the right place for help and support and advice. ..good luck and I hope it works out for you.

I wish it that easy to tell him liggypops, i tried to talked to may husband about his drinking problem and how its affects me, but its was like talking to the wall. I am not blaming him for my gambling addiction but i feel that somehow he is part of the reason why i started gambling. Gambling is not the answer to my loneliness and emptyness, it just made my problems worst. They said that sometimes its better to be alone than to be with someone who makes you feel alone.

Day 4.. no more online slots. Credit cards locked away and money tin starting to grow. Feels great.. I am sure the hard times are yet to come !