Hi,
I am 26 years old and utterly addicted to gambling. i have sucessfully hidden it from all my family and friends for the past 2 years. In that time I have lost around 15k including most of our joint savings, gifts of money from relatives for wedding, birthdays etc. I am so ashamed of what I have done and I have tried to quit on numerous occasions. Most recently for 40 days in the run up to christmas, I was really pleased and manged to get through the holidays clear. I resolved to not bet in 2015. Howver this only lasted a couple of weeks before I threw away another 1k.
I my particlur crutch is sport betting, I have an account with all UK registered online bookies. I have self excluded myself from all of them, until another one pops up! So in desparation this week I went into a betting shop for the first time and proceeded to win my first bet followed by a crushing loss. I have repeated this pattern so often now, the ecstacy and the agony I am sick of it. I want to get this monkey off my back and stop lying to everyone and regain control of myself. When I gamble I don't sleep, I am unfocussed at work and I ignore my family (while still hiding it all the time).
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
CSG
Today is day zero, I signed up today after loosing on the dogs (twice) trying to win back my previous losses. I am going cold turkey and I just hope I can keep it up.
Cold turkey is the hard way, counseliing or meetings can be such a relief, i think most on here would recommend them.
Let the losses go, they're in the past, new start, you can do it.
Hey CSG, I am the same age as you and going through exactly the same thing, I joined here yesterday so am just starting my journey to fix this with you aswell, I excluded myself from all bookmakers in my town this afternoon, even though it's been one day I find having this forum is helpin as its at my hands all day and night so anytime I think about gambling I come on here. Supports here my friend 🙂
"When I gamble I don't sleep, I am unfocussed at work and I ignore my family (while still hiding it all the time)."
This statement resonates with me (I do this so frequently on the forum... I read things and think that is exactly true for me as well). I am only 10 days in but I found that all these issues you identified have started to correct themselves for me and I feel very positive about my recovery thus far. Keep pushing on and don't look back! The past is gone you can only correct the future so make sure you focus on doing that... it's helped for me.
Hi All,
If you bet mainly online you need to break the habit. I use K9 to block the gambling sites. Download it free. Have a friend or family member key the password and keep it secret from you. If there is no one to do the password then make one up something like qqwwuiaxx990. Copy and paste it and then destroy the piece of paper. This way when the urges happen you can't physically do anything aboiut it. Use K9 on laptop/mobile etc then you will be able to break the vicsious circle.
You could try counselling via gamcare or attend GA meetings.
I find this site useful and I am taking paert in the 2015 Challenge. Day 23 Gamble free.
It feels good and the urges are less and less frequent.
Importantly your money becomes your own again and is not poured into the account of some gambling company.
Others may post other bits of info but YOU NEED TO GET THE BLOCKS ON GAMBLING SITES.
Take Care and Stay Strong.
Shane1 wrote: thank you shane. It means a lot to hear from you, its good to be able to relate my feeling to someone similar. Good luck in your journey!
Hey CSG, I am the same age as you and going through exactly the same thing, I joined here yesterday so am just starting my journey to fix this with you aswell, I excluded myself from all bookmakers in my town this afternoon, even though it's been one day I find having this forum is helpin as its at my hands all day and night so anytime I think about gambling I come on here. Supports here my friend 🙂
t
Thank you all for the support. It means a lot. 24hours clear. Lets keep going!
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