Basically I had finally got to over a year gamble free I was doing well with the recovery. I had paid off all my debt using stepchange.
However a couple of months ago my mental health deteriorated quite badly. I came round from it. But then adjusting to life and managing, I turned to gambling again.
It seemed harmless at first I wasn't on the main gambling sites. I had made a good pot of savings, also made a fixed savings account and had no money worries after staying gamble free.
However, I started small, but then relapsed and started losing more and more, and now my savings are gone, I haven't fully paid my rent this month but have spoke to landlord that's allowing me the delay.
I have been on long-term sick from work I was suppose to be going back for a phased return. But I'm exhausted from the gambling to the point of spending many hours and all my money on it. It felt like a great distraction, social I enjoyed it untill starting to continously loose money and the arguments on social media when something goes wrong.
I feel this type of gambling is still not fully understood or deemed as serious compared to regulated sites.
I have got to the point of trying to take a loan out,I'm begging the bank my fixed savings are in to let me have them so I can pay the rest of my rent. But I will be honest but also use for some games to distract as in a way it was helping until the money worries crept in.
I know the answer is to full abstain, leave social media, restrict money etc. But I can only be honest and say I'm trying to just work on at least reducing and limiting damage at the moment
I know only I can make the changes but I'm wanting support to as I am dealing alone with this side of things
I'm lucky I haven't done too much damage so far but it's making me very exhausted
If anyone knows of any helpful resources please share.
I want to get out of this gambling/ and money worries again
Hi Lou, I'm sorry too hear your struggling, and your mental Health hasn't been good, I know how hard this can be, and right now I think you need too try and do some damage limitation, until you feel able to stop completely again. I know right now it feels like there isn't a way out but you have done it before and you can do it again. I don't know if using blocks has helped in the past or not but maybe that's something too think about. It may also help too work out what your trigger is and what in inparticular you felt you needed when you started again. This isnt a easy thing too work out it took me a very long time too see what I was needing and getting from it. But the first step in admitting you want it too change thats the hardest part accepting this is the situation your in and how can I move forward? Your not alone, and is this time please look after yourself, do some self care. It takes alot too give yourself some understanding in this time but the more we beat ourselves up the worse our mental state becomes, please try and give yourself some love and care. This is a battle and you need you too be routining for you. You need too be your friend.
Take care
Walks x
Sounds like the social element of gambling was a problem for you Lou.
I think it's an underestimated element - I know gambling has had a variety of social elements for me over the years. When you stop, sometimes you lose social aspects as well as the gambling.
I’m in a similar position, I don’t know what’s wrong with me I can’t stop.
this year I have lost over 20 grand. Money I don’t have money I have borrowed from friends that monthly payments now are so high I can’t afford to live any more.
i even went over after work lost 300 pounds I borrowed off my partner this is the local arcade by the way. Told them after I want to ban myself for 6 months and they said oh we don’t know how to do it you will have to come back.
this is twice now and each time after I’ve gone back and lost more.
i am on heavy anti depressants and have a really responsible job yet in real life I am such a let down.
I had counselling through here, but over the phone it wasn’t what I thought it would be.
sadly didn’t work for me I don’t feel there is a way out of this hole and I have let everyone down.
We are available 24 hours a day, every day of the year. You can also contact us for free on 0808 80 20 133. If you would like to find out more about the service before you start, including information on confidentiality, please click below. Call recordings and chat transcripts are saved for 28 days for quality assurance.
