Evening all
Hope you are all doing well. I've joined today as I feel like I'm in need of some encouraging words of wisdom. I am a long term problem gambler (15years) In that time I have lost everything known to man. My kids, relationship's, my sanity, my freedom. It's been a very dark and painful path for me. I hadn't gambled for the last 3 years and had everything where I wanted and needed it to be. I've been stressed for the last month and ended up drinking really heavy last weekend and basically lost all the money I had in my bank to get by on, via online poker. Lucky for me I had some cash and a credit card which I can use intil I get paided from work. Now I'm not new to this pain depression and despair but this time it's different, I've been in a better place mentally the last couple of years and I actually started liking myself again. Now I know how to dig deep and I know this depression energy will pass once money starts rolling in again. But this really hurts as ive been doing so well. This addiction i believe is the worse of all! Can destroy everything in an instant! I've signed up to GAMSTOP. What a relief I feel, why did I not do this year's and years ago?! Can anyone relate?Â
Sorry to hear your pain, it isn't easy to pick yourself up from the dark cloud so well done for the measure's you've put in so far. GamStop a good start to prevent further gambling however I'd encourage you to put every block possible on all your Bank apps and any land based casinos.
I had a 10 year gamble free streak which came to an end in 2018, it's taken me until now to get me life back and start liking myself again, I want to keep this feeling so I encourage you to push on and take each day at a time.Â
@oranje01 Really appreciate your words. Also well done for being able to getting your life back on track again! I will contact bank and ask them to do this. Yesterday I went into town with my partner as it is her father's birthday this week. Walking in and out of shops looking at all the items that I could of brought with all the money I squandered really made me feel sick. It's quite a new relationship 4months and last week Saturday when I had this loss I had to tell her. Our money is separate so it didn't have any financial affect on her, but I knew that I had to tell her anyway as I now had gone from the guy who would pay for 75% of stuff meals etc to not being able to do anything intil I put this right. I've also told my friends and my parents as I don't want to keep things from them like I did before and fall to the bottom. I don't know how I managed to scrape a wage last week as my head was so far up my a**e. Last night I slept from 7pm till now as I write this. I'm really struggling and dread next week working. I can't find the strength to go to the gym which I know will help. My girlfriend has been amazing though. Hoping it gets easier through the weeks. Hope your enjoying the weekend.
Thanks for the kind words Rise4Good. I understand what you are going through as I've been there too. I recall the day my grandmother passed away and I didn't have any money to support the family with funeral expenses as I spent all of my wages on gambling. To this day I use that guilt as a motivational reminder to avoid that ever happening again. I can't undo the past but I can control the future...
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