Hello, I am quite new to this site, have read many posts and sympathise with almost all. This is the first time I have posted, but I feel so angry with myself that I cannot sleep and reading the posts on the forum is calming me down a little.
I have been gambling online for about 2 years now, roulette and slots, it started off with me only placing small bets but in the last few months things have got completely out of control. Almost any free time I have I gamble, I have lost thousands of pounds and have maxed out my overdraft and credit cards. It makes me feel sick how much many I have thrown away. The high when I win is great, but lately it has much less effect and I almost feel numb. I think because I have finally realised that even if I win, I inevitably lose it all within a few days anyway, plus more.
I have told absolutely no one about my gambling. I think my friends and family would be incredibly surprised and horrified if they knew how much time and money I have wasted. That makes me feel so alone.
I will be moving house soon and I have managed to secure an additional mortgage which will enable me to pay off my thousands of pounds of debt. I just hope with all my heart I can use this as a fresh start and stop gambling for good.
Thanks for reading my post.
Hi HK and welcome! I so wish I could offer you advice - I've been pretty good at that of late and then I go and relapse!! TAKE HEED .... keep what you have still left. You want to gamble to try and get back what you've list already.....YOU CANT WIN!! Please stop - you haven't been gbling for long so you have a better chance of quitting for good--- DO IT! I have been gbling on slots for 15 years approx- lost thousands and thousands. I could have bought a house and be mortgage free with what I've spent. Please don't go down that road. You are too young to have your life blighted by this hideous addiction! Take care. Helen. Xx
Hi Helen, thanks for your reply. I do feel as though I have a bit of a lifeline with selling the house (soon) and the chance to use some of the equity to pay off my debts. But it also makes me feel so angry with myself that I have racked up such debts and now have to take out a bigger mortgage to pay them off. But hopefully I can stop myself from gambling now and end the spiral of debt and guilt that I currently find myself in.
Thanks for your kind words - I know you are right and that 2 years gambling compared to some people is not a very long time. It feels like forever to me at the moment. I have to fight the little demon in my head that is still saying "just have another bet and you could win back some of the money you've lost ..."
We have all lost enormous amounts of money. We have to forget about it -!its gone and it's not coming back! Look to the future and learn from the past - new house - new life! Good luck with your future! Take care. Helen. X
Hi HK
Sound advise from Helen. What's passed is done, we can only look forward and learn from what has already gone. You have come to the right place for support and encouragement so a new live is starting for you with your new house.
I have replied to your question on telling family and friends on Helen's thread. I did it before I saw this one. I really must pay attention!
Stay strong, look to a bright future.
Elfie x
Hi,HK,i too have lost thousands over the years but with gut determination i have been free now for some time and with a strong willpower thats how it is going to stay.As the days go on your loneliness and despair will fade into the background,just concentrate on ur future and keep telling urself,i can do this,best of luck.
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