I am 19 years old and have been gambling on sports and poker for the past year its been gradually getting worse and worse losing hundreds of pounds a month, this month I spent my Pay check in 10 days. I am hugely down and have been isolating myself from people. Today I decided to come out to my parents and tell them about my addiction. It was incredibly hard but immediately a Burdon has been lifted and I feel free again I have downloaded a blocker app on phone and laptop and feel like I'm not gonna gamble again. I decided to try to stop as soon as possible even though its been happening over a year, I feel like I have caught it early enough, my parents have been really supportive so hopefully today will be my last ever bet.
Hello JM, and welcome to the GamCare Forum.
Well done on taking the very positive steps you have taken so far in supporting you in stopping gambling.
If you would like to speak to an adviser for further advice on blocks and support with your recovery please do get in touch either on our netline or helpline 0808 8020 133.
Please do feel free to keep posting on the Forum and keep us updated of your progress.
Wishing you all the very best.
Forum Admin
Hi,
Well done for realising you have a problem. I'll give you an insight into how your life could pan out if you continue gambling.
For starters, gambling will consume you. That means you will see you friends less and less, all you really want to do is gamble and you'll believe you won't end up like the other mugs who lose all the time. This delusion will ensure you'll be broke most of the time. You can forget about nice holidays, getting a car etc. You'll always be in debt and this situation will slowly erode any confidence you once had. You'll isolate yourself from your family because they just don't understand and give you a hard time. Depression sets in, you realise you have no life because you've put all your energy into planning the next bet. Your anger and frustration grows and everything and everyone annoys you. You start drinking more and more alcohol and during one of these drunken binges you lose thousands of pounds. Now you're starting to get desperate. How are you going to get through the month? You can't pay your rent.....again. Facing eviction and having burnt your bridges with your family and friends. You end up homeless. You're utterly broken. No one wants to know you anymore, you have no self-confidence and are completely on your own. Your in debt and find it hard to function most days. You keep asking yourself how did my life end up like this? All you really want is this miserable existence to end.
If you think I'm exaggerating, I was describing my battle with gambling addiction.
Please accept that trying to make money from gambling is very foolish. Put all your energy into stopping and I promise you, you'll have a happier life.
All the best.
Stuart
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