Constantly chasing the win

Hello Soreloser

Welcome to the Forum where you will connect with others sharing their experience, strength and hope with each other.  Problem gambling is cunning, powerful and baffling and without help it is too much.

Along with the Forum we have Advisers available 24/7 to help you through this.  You can contact an Adviser by calling our Helpline on 0808 8020 133 or using our LiveChat. WhatsApp or Facebook options.  I encourage you to contact us so we can discuss the best way forward for you.

Please know that you are no longer alone!

Best

Amanda

Forum Admin

Hi Soreloser, that is the classic sign of a compulsive gambler always thinking you can win more when all you are doing is feeding your addiction. You need to get all the blockers in place you can, sign up with gamstop, put gamban on your phone or whatever you use to gamble, contact oyur bank to put a block on gambling transactions. All these will help when you get the urge but the main this is you have to want to stop. There are no half measures it's got to be all in to beat this before your debt spirals out of control.

All the best

Hi

The gambling was just the symptoms that I was emotionally vulnerable.

When I went gambling it was often fear based running away from peoplel ife and situations.

Please keep withy our recovery.

In time I made much healthier choices.

It is very simple just for today  will not gamble.

Dave L

Hey ?

Very good advice above, I experienced this recently with chasing wins but I stopped before it took any more this time. "Winning" to me is more dangerous as it keeps me hooked and once the profit goes you're putting your own money in and then problems come in.

I found out that you only win if you don't gamble at all! Blocks in place and seeking support is the only way forward. 

Gamstop is amazing to stop all online gambling, try it. 🙂

Have a good day.

Hi SL and Welcome

They pushed an addictive product and addiction on you......that's why you need to reach out for help to recover

It's a drug addiction and nasty scam. It really isn't different to a drug dealer pushing the first hit on you

It's almost the perfect scam hiding in a cloak of legality. It works on all levels until you crave the act of gambling more than any other factor

That point actually comes very quickly. I believe it was a matter of days but I was pre hooked on the idea just seeing a machine which is why it's so dangerous.....it was instant with me in a way that my fear barriers prevented other vices. I didn't see the danger because my impressionable mind saw it as a money making opportunity and bit of fun doing it.....what could be the harm when I was a sensible office worker blah blah...?

That's the really crazy thing about the vice....I actually thought all along that with some care I would be up a bit every time.....I never really thought it was a mugs activity despite having given them all the price of a house and more.....having another go was all part of the serious mental illness.....having another go when I was hundreds of thousands of pounds out of pocket.......makes zero sense to a healthy mind

Don't be scared of the term mental illness or drug addiction. I was an ill person trying to get better.....not a bad person trying to be good......Paul Merson and others helped me focus on that

It starts to make sense when you realise what it is....I was a lonely highly anxious depressive putting a brave face on depression and actiog out a drug addiction to gambling.....it was a cry for help......I felt I had nobody to turn to to say help me....I'm lonely and life overwhelms me!!

You see gambling initially soothes a certain state of depression and then obviously and actually makes it worse

I couldn't help myself.....ah but some people say you walked in and were just greedy for money.....its not like that....Its a craving and mind control even if you think you are in control of your actions

So please tell someone close.....get help and get your money away from you in protection

Best wishes from everyone on the forum

Thank you for all your helpful and kind comments.

I have put bans on all my accounts now and haven't even really thought about it. I feel a lot happier already knowing that I haven't lost all my hard earned money.

I am now going to focus all my time on my 6 month old daughter who is my world.

Thanks again for all your kind words, and I will keep everyone updated along the way.

Thanks

SL