Hi my story with gambling goes back 18 years . As a 15 year old I was introduced to fruit machines , and then it started . It quickly became clear out of all my friends I was addicted right from the start. When I went out I wasn't thinking about what the best pub was just where there were fruit machines !!! Excluding myself from my friends feeding in pound after pound. Then borrowing from them feeling sick but totally glued if only the next pound would get my money back . This just the start then it crept into day times skiving work or taking extra long breaks loosing all the time yet always feeling more positive the next day why !! I'm not stupid why couldn't I and why can't I see this !! This continued through out my teens and early twenties debts mounted and only through the kindness of my parents did they get paid twice ! The second after I ran away calling the Samaritans and through them the message came through to family that I had this problem. From then on the problem was atleast reduced but not for long. The difference this time I couldn't run up debts as my credit was and still is completely shot. I lied and still lie all the time , to cover my tracks. I then my wife who had a child and we had a child together. Maybe this responsibility would stop me !! No only changed my reasoning for gambling. Did manage to surpress it for short periods occasionally going of the rails, but this was mixed with much longer periods of gambling.Playing Poker has been the single worst thing I have ever done starting 3 years ago I have had this ridiculous notion I could make something of it other people do when I first started I didn't put too much in and won well but this was the problem in one week I made £1500 three times my earnings I started to believe having given up fruit machines before based on the fact they are entirely based around luck ! Here's something I have some control over Ofcourse I lost the money and the control is the poker over me my brain will not let me think rationally it tells me I've done it once I can do it again. Just change your approach. With me I havent gambled huge amounts topping up 5 pound at a time but 20 or 30 times a month but it's mounted up some months more than others. What I have realised today is that gambling has literally ruined my life and had a very negative effect on the people close to me i thought I was a decent person with a good heart but how can I be how could I let every one down like this I need help !!!
You're not a bad person but you are a compulsive gambler. Don't let the addiction impact on your self worth. Just beat the addiction.
Dear Please Help 81. I'm very glad you've joined the forum and posted here. You sound lost and unsure what to do, except that you know gambling is ruining your life and you must stop. Well, here are some suggestions for where you can go from here:
1. Take all the steps you can to stop yourself having access to gambling. Self exclude from any venues where you gamble - casinos, betting shops and online accounts.
2. If you gamble online, you might also want to consider blocking the gambling sites, using software or by contacting your internet provider.
3. Consider tackling the addiction itself by going to counselling and/or Gamblers Anonymous groups.
You can find out more about the options open to you at our website: http://www.gamcare.org.uk/get-advice
Or you can call us on 0808 8020 133. We're here 8am to midnight, every day, and if you prefer, you can chat to us on the Netline.
Keep posting,
Forum Admin
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