Hi I'm new to this forum as a member although I know my long suffering wife has been using it for some time. Where to start really? I'm a compulsive gambler and have been living with the problem for 2 and a half years. I have a great job fantastic wife 3 wonderful children...but still it isn't enough. What's that all about?
I've received counselling from the National Problem Gambling Clinic in London and hit signed off at the start of 2014. I've had periods of time maybe 2 months maximum where I haven't gambled but always slip back into my old ways. I think my biggest problem is that I truly believe I can do this on my own. It's getting to a crossroads where I'm in serious danger of sling my family and everything I love.
My job means that I travel and have plenty of opportunity to visit casinos (black jack and roulette) and so I have handed over my bank card to my wife...until I ask for it back again because I make some excuse as to why I need it.
Anyway I won't bore you with all the details, suffice to say I want to stop and reclaim my life. It feels like I'm sometimes just existing and this is just a bad dream that will end. Just typing this out has helped though.
Hello Mark75,
Welcome to the forum.
It sounds like you’ve put some work into your recovery already, having received NHS treatment at the National Problem Gambling Clinic, and you’ve succeeded with stopping gambling for a couple of months at a time. Do allow yourself to reflect on these successes so you can identify what you’ve been doing that has been helpful for your recovery during those months when you weren’t gambling. You have tried to limit your access to money, but you face the challenge of encountering gambling opportunities while travelling for work.
You mention that another hurdle in your recovery is the belief that you don’t need help and that you can do this on your own, yet here you are posting on the forum, which you could choose to use as a source of peer support. Using the forum on a regular basis, for example by keeping an online diary in the ‘Recovery diaries’ section, could be a way for you to avoid slipping into denial or complacency, and while you are sharing support with others who are recovering, you might find some of their zest for recovery is inspiring or contagious.
Please feel welcome to continue posting, or if you’d like to find out more about other GamCare services you could contact a GamCare adviser on our Freephone 0808 8020 133 or on our Netline.
Take care,
Adam.
Thanks Adam,
It's been nearly 2 weeks since I posted and I haven't gambled so that's positive. Coming on here definitely helps and I think you're right, this is the forum to help in my recovery.
Thanks
Mark
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