Acceptance.

Hi River

Thank you for sharing your story. I'm always impressed when someone, young in life has the foresight to stop. I gambled for 44 years from the age of 12 and nothing would make me stop at 18. 

I'm so glad you have got off at the 8th floor of the lift rather than hitting the ground floor. Well done and be proud.

I'm never going to tell you what to do but in terms of telling anyone, I always think two things. 

Is it better coming from me or them finding out 

Secondly, putting myself in their shoes, how would they feel further down the line finding out and thinking I couldn't open up to them. I think the answer to those two questions can help anyone decide. It's surprising how some people take it.

I don't think any of us can underestimate gambling addiction. Once I crossed the line and couldn't control it, I knew it would be difficult to stop

 Just out of interest have you registered with Gamstop, moses and sense ? Have you put a gambling block on your banking app and installed gamban on your devices ? 

There are really good chatrooms on here at 8pm each night which are text only 

Hi mate, i started at 16 became a real problem at 18. Only came to a stop at 33. 

I told myself after every loss that I was going to quit and never got the support I desperately needed. Gambling changed me for the worse, broke down relationships and made me withdraw from the parts of life that made me happy. 

It is really hard or even scary to ask for help. I am 6ft 4 and always seen myself as an alpha male. Never cried never showed weakness, this is weakness not strength. 

Speak to the team on here mate. You can get free councilling. You will get gam ban for free and when you are ready tell the person you trust the most. It feels really good to get it out, you will be excited to share your milestones with them. 

Will be keeping an eye on your posts mate, please ask if you have questons. 

Dom

46 days gamble free

@g0r7tnm625 

Thank you mate for the reply,

I do get where you're coming from. I think my biggest concern at the moment is just trying to get the money back that I lost, not via gambling but via work ect. It was a lot of money for me personally, and I know it will take time but that would sort all my current problems. 

I will get there slowly slowly, and I'm very glad you're recovering too. Honestly mate, just gotta find something you're really good at and stick to it to keep anything else off your mind. Once you come to terms with the fact that easy money is easily taken, you realise how bad gambling actually is. 

Money is a trigger mate, that money will only come back if you quit though. Big thing I would advise and I can't really stress this enough. Do not borrow any money, at least not until you have gotten your gambling under control. You can read sny of our stories and nost of us are in debt or have been in lots of debt. 

Gambling is awful ot takes a stepback to see it for what it is. Replace the habit with sometjing healthy mate, I have joined a mens group for socialising and gotten a puppy to keep me occupied. You do what works for you.

Reach out for the support though mate, its very easy to quit when the moneys gone, much harder when it is back.