Time to be honest

Hi @Abslee2012

Thank you for sharing your post and for being so honest about how you are feeling.

I am really sorry you are feeling like this, you have done really well to confront this now as admitting it’s a problem to yourself is sometimes the toughest part. It sounds like you have a lot going on and your mental health is suffering because of it.

If you haven’t already, I would encourage you to make an appointment with your GP surrounding your depression, and any other feelings you may be experiencing currently.A dog does not sound like a terrible idea, companionship is really important as if having a set routine. Just ensure you have money,time and space for a long term comitment. 

The forum is a great place for peer support and as you will have seen there is lots of advice, support and encouragement to help you with your journey.

Can I suggest that you contact the GamCare Helpline on 0808 8020 133 or Netline to explore the additional support available to you, including self exclusions and blocking software. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week if you would like to talk to one of the GamCare HelpLine advisers.

Keep posting and sharing. 

Helen 

Forum Admin. 

Hello Abslee2012 and Welcome 

This is about addiction .... a drug addiction and mental illness which fed off other feelings like anxiety and depression.

it's about an ill person trying to get better and not a bad person trying to be good.

You need these reality checks and your father's reaction is an important one even though it will hurt at the moment 

Recovery is reaching out for help and protecting any remaining money Then you can gradually aim to understand this and heal 

Gambling is an addictive escape drug and the idea of getting extra money starts to make a perverse sense in a gamblers mind 

When I first started recovering I was full of buts.....but but but Dad I've won much in one day. What took longer to come out was I've given the gambling dens the price of a house to have a few small returns. I was totally delusional because the truth is I was hooked on the act of gambling and very ill with addiction . I am not a fool and I am not a bad person.....I didn't understand how gambling addiction alters the brain

There is no shame in reaching out for help.You should start to feel a sense of relief that people know about it and care 

You must surrender any feelings of independence for a long while and can never be complacent again for the rest of your life 

You father and loved ones will come to understand that you need help and it's not a greed or stupidity issue 

It's a complex addiction but you can and will beat this into history if you are open to the trusted advice 

Best wishes from everyone on the forum

Thank you for your kind reply, I think I cam beat this as I have been here before, although back then I wouldn't have admitted it was an issue at all. 

I think the hardest part is also the realisation of the disappointment it causes, not only to others but that of which I have with myself. I thought it was in control and fooled myself into believing that when I should have been true and realises it a while back. But I suppose I have realised it now and can take the steps I need to get myself better. 

I really appreciate everyone's support through this journey as I do feel very alone and knowing that people are there makes such a difference. 

Hi there

Thanks for sharing your story  

Late in December i admitted to my wife thatbi was gambling so much. My addiction got to the stage where i was actually stealing from so many family members to fund my addiction. 

It was such a huge moment for me to come clean. I lost my job because of my gambling . I am now in a new job and due my first wage at the end of the week and the thought of having all this money again scares me.

I am now 72 days gamble free and before i struggled to go 72 minutes without making a spin on the online slots. 

You can do this and you can beat this. Having Gamban installed on everybdevice in mynhome has helped. And registering witn gamstop is a good route as well. 

Good Luck