Self Diagnosed Gambling Addict looking for help!

Hi there, you are in good company here! First steps for online is Gamstop.. google it and register there! And then have a good read of some of the recovery diaries. I can't offer much more advice, as I've not made it past 9days... but we are in this together now!!

Hi

Welcome and fair play to you for trying to put your problems right. It's not easy but you can do it and become a better person and in time that would benefit your mental health.

I'm still in the process of quitting my habit (something that I have accepted will always be a problem in my life however many days I go gamble free).

One thing I've found helps for me so far is I try and comment on other posts like yours now and again as I find it helps me to think I may also be helping others.

Obviously register gamstop as stated but then try and put barriers in place to stop you finding an alternative way. I found myself playing machines in the bookies as I couldn't get online. Self exclude from bookies.

Thank you for the replies so far!

Its some sort of comfort to know I am not alone in feeling like this but wish you didnt find yourselves in a similar position at the same time.

Gamstop have been a bit useless I have tried to self exclude through them a number of times but they always fail to process it.

I am 5 days without gambling but feel I may have only achieved that by losing all last months pay cheque within a few hours of receiving it and if I were to have available funds I may not have managed this streak. Fingers are crossed I do not repeat same mistake on the next pay cheque.

1 week gamble free longest I have gone in about 2 years! Its been hard with many many urges to gamble but ive fought hard and tried to divert my attention using books and you tube videos as distaractions as soon as i feel an urge coming on.

Hi, I am new here too and this is my first step towards changing things for the better. I agree with the above posts - Gamstop is a good place to start although it certainly isn’t perfect. I think one of my major problems is admitting that ultimately, with support, I have to take full responsibility and grab this problem by the b***s and get my life back. I wish you SO much luck - let’s do this!! 🙂

Lets continue to keep each other updated of our journeys on here good or bad. Great to have support from others who are in a similar situation and understand what each other are experiencing/going through.

Hi GamblingAddict24,

Well done for finding here. The path you are on is very destructive and the only thing I can guarantee is that it will only get worse if you continue to gamble. However no matter what age we are, we can alll change and even though the past cannot be changed, moving forward we can find serenity. But you are still so young. I see you are at a real low point right now and its hard to ever imagine being able to break free of this addiction, but you can! You don't have to live the rest of your life suffering the negative repurcussions of this illness, because that is what it is. Its a disorder, but there is help and here you will find solutions. I suggest ringing Gamcare and speak to them and ask for help. They can arrange for therapy and I cannot recommend this highly enough. Therapy can be done over the phone and it may be easy for you to talk to a professional in this format as it less invasive and can be easier to speak over a phone as your not having to look the other person in the eye and can kind of hide behind the phone. Do you have access to spotify or any other podcast listening platforms? There is a podcast called 'after gambling' I find this extremely useful in helping me on my road to recovery and it also talks about GA if you are to consider it. As a 30 year old male never did I ever think I could go to such a thing or that I would ever need to. How wrong was I, its the place with the answers.I hate speaking in front of people. But you don't have to and van just listen. People ae very understanding and don't want to make people feel uneasy, just help. But just take it one step at a time. No pressure from this forums you follow your gut, but please contact Gamcare and speak to them. Then just take it from there and these forums. If you really want to stop, then you will but you will need help and guidance to do so. There are many people out there who have been in your same position and are now in a much better place.

Wishing you all the best mate.

Take care.

OAU

Yes Gamstop as well. This will stop you being able to sign up to any site on any device and maybe switch banks to Monzo or Barclays as gambling deposits can be blocked at the source, making it very difficult to gamble.

Hi are you sure there is no GA group near you or your workplace ? Link here for postcode checker : https://www.gamblersanonymous.org.uk/index.php/meetings

Also some banks nowadays can block use of a debit card for gambling transactions on request. Link here : https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/2019/01/more-banks-plan-gambling-restrictions/

Also you can consider withdrawing whatever credit balance you have in cash either via cashpoints or at the branch when you receive it, leaving just enough to cover the direct debits you have. If you can't access funds online, then you can't gamble. This helps if the funds are burning a virtual hole in your wallet. It becomes much easier if you know you have no funds to access, then you know you can't gamble online, so you think about the possiblity of doing so a lot less, as you know it isn't even an option. Think about as keeping as little as possible in your bank ac, so even if you do relapse & go on a chase you can't do much financial damage to yourself. Maybe think about gambling as a form of self-harm which ultimately just makes things worse.