Hi all,
I'm a 22 year old student and have been struggling with gambling since I first went to a casino when I was 18. Actually that's a lie, I used to spend my lunch money on scratch cards when I was 16. Basically my whole adult life has been consumed with gambling addiction.
ive hidden it well, I still achieve good grades at uni, I work part time which has essentially funded my addiction. I play sport and most people would be very surprised to know my struggles. I recently broke up with my long term girlfriend and child hood sweetheart and my gambling spiralled out of control. I spent a whole student loan in 2 days and spent £500 my mum gave me for rent. I managed to lie and borrow to stay afloat for a while but recently came clean about everything after I sold a Rolex watch my dad bought me for my 21st birthday and then spent it all on gambling (mostly football and online casino). That was when i realised I had absolutely nothing and owed various friends over £2000 My parents have been very supportive since I told them and my sister now has control of my finances - I give her my salary and she rations me out as and when I need. I recently paid off all my friends and now only have a £5000 credit card debt which I know I can pay off in due course with hard work.
I've joined this as I hope you can all help me to stay clean of this curse for good. And I also hope my story might ring true with other young people that have gotten into trouble. I often feel I'm the only person in my situation. I'm young, my parents are both healthcare professionals, I'm meant to be educated, I had no reason and no excuse to gamble and that makes me feel so worthless sometimes. I just want other people like me out there to know they're not alone and that we can recover together. We have our whole lives ahead of us to make back that money with hard work. Please stop now with me before that £10,000 loss becomes £100,000 and our future families. Let's do this and start enjoying our adult lives!
Hi Lego
You're young, you've got lots of exciting times ahead. Well done for getting on here, you'll get lots of advice. All you've got to do is stop, put it down to something that got hold of you and you learnt how to beat it. The feeling of normality will return just be on your guard when it does as its then you're most likely to bet again. Don't, learn that it's how it gets you back in, have a plan for it. You can do it.
Tom
Thanks Tom,
I really hope so this time. 3 days clean now and I haven't been able to say that in a long time.
good luck to you in your continued recovery
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