I relapsed after 6 months. Really upset with myself. Wasn’t just tonight, I’ve been sports betting non stop for the past week. Lost a couple hundred of my money that I had saved to buy an Xbox and then lost a few hundred that I’ve borrowed from family/friends which I’ll have to pay back this payday. I’ve somehow gone from having nearly a grand left over from this payday on Friday to having at most 150. That depresses me. I’m 21. Been in debt since I was 18 with gambling. It’s at around 6k now. I’m in a DMP. This relapse hurts more than anything. Thought I was finally sorting myself out. Looking forward to making purchases with money I’ve worked for but in stead I’ve spunked in down the drain. Makes matters worse that I’m on a 20hr P/w contract at my work and did all the hours extra available to me to strengthen my financial situation and I did this.
Where do I even go from here? Accepting the thousands I lost in the past and all the debt I created I sort of accepted quickly. But this hurts even more.. I’m sorry
Hello Decisions
Firstly please don't apologise for posting your truth here on our Forum; You are more than welcome and I sincerely do hope that the Forum helps you to connect with others and not feel so alone with this.
Along with the Forum we have Advisers available 24/7 to help you through this painful and devastating time. You can contact an Adviser by calling our Helpline on 0800 8020 133 or by using our LiveChat option. I encourage you to make contact so that we can discuss the best way to overcome the gambling issues you are currently dealing with. Problem gambling is cunning, powerful and baffling and without help it is too much.
In the meantime, remember that you manage to be gamble free for 6 months until recently, therefore, you can do this - One Day At A Time.
Best
Amanda
Forum Admin
Hi Decisions.
We understand! You are far from the only person to have done this. I lost count of the number of times I could have bought an xbox or new television.
However you must reach out and talk to people close. When you are ready to stop you will feel relief and even serenity that someone is controlling your money and you are living on an allowance.
It will allow you to face reality and accept reality. Secrets are no good for you. it gets better when people you trust know what you have been up to and can help with moral support.
Gambling was never the answer and it just becomes a drug addiction. It was never there to top up your wages...thats not how its set up. You have been ignoring the odds through escape or desperation...its mostly an escape drug in my view
Leave it alone and abstain with blocks. I promise life gets better and you can get financial advice. With your family giving moral support to beat and addiction life can only get better.
working is an income scheme so consider a second job, training for a skill and having a purp0se to your life. An organised life and enjoying the simple pleasures is far better than the stress you have been going through.
Yes it hurts but the real fear should be that you had no control of your own mind. Gambling behaviour is delusional and an illness. You can never be complacent about your vulnerability to it ever again.
Best wishes for a gamble free life
Welcome decisions,
im officially into my first week of gamble free! The support chats have really helped me through this process as everyone in there is really encouraging, i hope to see you in there one afternoon/evening
Hi Decisions,
So sorry that you are going through such a tough time. There are lots of people on here who can relate to your situation and offer support. You are not alone.
I can understand you feeling upset and angry with yourself but you managed 6 months gamble free before your relapse and that's fantastic. It shows you can do it again.
Are you able to talk to any family members or close friends about what you are going through? It's a lot to deal with on your own. People close to you may be able to help by not lending you money to gamble with. You might want to ask a trusted family member to look after your money for you so that you are not tempted to use it for gambling.
Take care and keep posting.
Wishing you all the best.
J
Don’t be sorry. Most of us have been there. I’m there right now. I was £600 up last night after gambling for first time in a while. Now tonight I’m £700 down. Completely annoyed with myself that it was money that was going towards a credit card and different things to now just P*****g it away.
The thing is I got bored and knew I wasn’t gonna win it back yet kept putting more money in to try “win” it back. which we all know doesn’t happen.
Have you got blocks or limits in place? Might be an idea to do that. Or have someone take over your finances. Do they know about your gambling?
Or ask someone to keep the money your saving aside for you to cut the source off.
Best of luck don’t let this get you down!
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