Hello I'm 26 year old bloke who has got a wonderful girlfriend and a 16 month old baby who I worship, but I can't stop gambling I gamble money I don't have I've got myself in £7000 worth of debt me and my girlfriend live on a tight budget anyway and now I've got to find money to pay off these debts. I am surrounded my gambling with family members and I try to stop but it all builds up and I go on a gambling binge. I'm going to my first meeting tonight to prove to my girlfriend I want to stop I need help to stop I want to more than anything hopefully I can
Hi Fufc,
Thanks for your post and welcome to the forum. I hope you're finding it to be a supportive place, and I'm glad you've taken the decision to reach out for help. You don't mention what type of gambling you do, but putting barriers in place would be one of the first places to start. If you're gambling in the bookies, here's a good number to call in case you'd like to self exclude from the betting shops in your area: http://self-exclusion.co.uk/ That's a good step to take to help keep yourself away from gambling in the environment nearest to you. If you need to protect yourself online, you could look into blocking software like Gamblock, Betfilter, or K9. Those programs prevent any gambling sites from opening on your computer, and a lot of gamblers use and recommend them.
Beyond all that, addressing any underlying reasons for why you gamble like you do, and working on ways to manage your urges more effectively would be very good steps to take. It sounds like you're already planning to go to GA, which is great and hopefully you'll find it supportive. Individual counselling could also help you learn ways to manage your urges and do healthier behaviours, and we have partner agencies in many parts of the UK that provide that at no cost. Have a look at this page of our website to see if there's one near you: http://www.gamcare.org.uk/support-and-counselling/face-face-counselling/find-local-counselling#.VvzKtyP2YqV
Of course we're happy to speak to you about any of this, or any other questions you might have if you wanted to get in touch with us through our Helpline or Netline. Just look for the links to those at the top of any of our website pages; we're open from 8am to midnight every day.
Remember that as long as you have the desire to quit gambling, you keep trying and don't give up, eventually you will succeed. It might take a while, so be patient, and put as many blocks in place and take whatever practical steps you can. Things can always get better, and I promise your life will be less stressful without gambling.
Hang in there, and I hope this helps.
Travis
Well done for getting yourself to a meeting. Stick with it! The support will really help you.
Most of us here are in the same boat. We know what you're going through. And we'll help each other get through!
Please come back and let us know how the meeting went.
Good luck!
Hi Fufc 321
You can do it and one of the first things you should be doing is handing control of finances to your girlfriend. You need to be living on a sandwich and petrol allowance.
You need to prove yourself again and you need a phoenix from the ashes moment
Gambling is no good for you. Gamblers near you are no good for you.
You need to be ready for proper blocks and self exclusion. Saying you will stop is unfortunately not enough. willpower alone is not enough
Loads of people on the forum will help you
Please ring gamcare and you should even consider a checkup with the doctor
Your partner and child are the most important. Gambling riuins people so you must focus on saving your relationship and having a happy family
You can get financial help from the CAB. One step at a time and the dark fog lifts. You need to be ready and sure in your mind that you want to make every effort to stop.
Keep posting your thoughts and reading the other stories
Best wishes to you
Thanks for the replies, went to my first meeting last night and took a lot from it wasn't sure I would but I'm pleasantly surprised listening to other people's stories has motivated me to not want to let myself get worse and that now is the right time to change my life I'm not going to let gambling ruin my life any more than it already has
Hi Fufc
Read your post on Shaun's page. Well done mate on attending first GA meeting. The first one is always going to be a little intimidating and nervy, but I was the same. I enjoy the meetings now listening and speaking. There's no reason not to get anything of your chest in there.
Let us know how the 2nd meeting went. Thanks.
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