As much as I stop I can't. Sick of beating myself up over and over is damaging my health in more ways than one. I registered for GAMSTOP but got around it, used GAMBAN but knowing computers it was easy enough for me to delete it completely. I did have 1-1 counselling sessions setup but I got failed and let down by the system - first appointment went good so I tried to attend the second one only to get told that the staff member no longer works there. I have called GAMCARE via phone number but I don't see the use just to talk for an hour or so and thinking the advisors know how it really is - "talking helps" but it doesn't solve or get rid of the problems, pain, hardship and everything else they eventually hang up the phone leaving me to dwell in misery.
Debt is another major factor, not only personal private family life. Gambling changes your brains chemistry and hooks into it with dopamine and endorphins. I really do think that my life is officially fu-cked, I can't stop gambling as much as I try the constant 'hope' that the fake big win will come in and my life magically fixes itself again. I just can't deal with this stress anymore and nothing is working.
Gambling commission/IBAS don't care - they don't get involved in complaints or cases even if I show them compelling arguments and show a doctors note.
Is there anything that I haven't yet possibly tried? Because I'm tired of this.
This all sounds very familiar and I am by no means an expert as I am only day 6 into "gambling free" but as difficult as it was for me to do this (I tried every excuse in the book to talk myself out of it, imaging I could have one more big win clear the debt then self exclude etc) I registered with gamstop and in my banking app I requested that my bank doesn't allow any gambling transactions. I knew I couldn't do it with will power alone and like you said, didn't believe talking to anyone would help so I had to make it that I physically couldn't gamble. I know you said you registered with Gamstop but got round it...do it again with whatever other email addresses you have or other names you use etc. I know how scary it is but I can only say how I felt after and that was so nervous and scared but I felt so liberated that the "decision" to gamble was no longer mine to make..I just couldn't do it. I'm looking forward to payday and having more disposable income for the first time in years!
I joined this in May and had people say similar trying to encourage me to register and I wasn't up for it then one bit and thought easier said than done but I have now accepted the past for what it is and won't allow myself to dwell on it and I am excited for a gamble free future...don't get me wrong I still have images of hitting a bonus in the slots etc but I remind myself they were few and far between and we always end up the lower.
Tonight I was sitting bored after the usual stuff about the house was done and thought about gambling which is why I came on here to read the forums to try get a bit of support for myself lol...the cheek of me offering it so early into my own "journey" but your post resonated with me!!
Good luck with your journey!!
Having read a few of your posts i believe you have a severe lack of accountability as most gamblers do , gamblers love victim mentality
you are placing bets you can't afford to lose with money you don't have , it doesn't take Elon Musk to figure out it's a recipe for disaster
There is no magic potion to take that's going to solve all your problems you need to completely knock it on the head and then spend 3-5 years with your nose to the grindstone sorting the mess out
That is what i had to do and the only thing that worked
Accept that you have lost and get on with it
First step and it’s something I didn’t even no I could do, any bank cards, go online and block all betting related activity with a simple swipe. What I like is it has a 48hr “reverse” so if you get an urge, you can’t act on it! Good luck.
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