Hi everyone, hope you are well.
Just wondering if anyone is in the same position as me. I am a person who has like a flutter on football betting for a good few years and apart from a handful of times, never really gave me too many problems. However, maybe 2-3 times a year I have found myself going to online slots and losing hundreds or thousands of pounds. The last time this happened was over two weeks ago, and although I maybe am not someone who is addicted in the sense I need to gamble everyday, I definitely must have a problem in the sense I do always go back after a period of time and lose such a huge amount of money. I’m just wondering if there is a different way of dealing with things or if anyone has had experience of this to make sure I don’t go back. It’s almost as if when I have decent savings this is when I end up going back and blowing most of it or all. I’m therefore finding it really difficult to deal with the losses and am feeling extremely regretful and feeling really low and quite frankly stupid, as to anyone looking in it is insanity the way I have behaved. I’m trying to see the positive that I know this has to be and will be the last time as I am fully quitting gambling and have all the blocks in place and installed in my phone and am seeking counselling through gamcare. I am determined to never find myself in such a horrible position again, but the main thing is struggling to come to terms with the losses and guilt.
Thanks.
Hello Winningatlosing,
Thank you sharing your experience on the Forum,
You seem to be describing a cyclical relationship with gambling. Gambling can be a problem if it is causing you a problem, it does not have to occur every day. Ultimately if it causes you unwanted financial loss, work or relationship impacts or even just spending more time and energy than you are comfortable with it is reasonable to take a wider view and look at making some changes.
You are not alone in experiencing perhaps some excitement at the initial gambling that leads to a periodic set of after-events. I hope this provides some clarity. The most important thing now though is it sounds like you want to prevent experiencing this pattern into the future. It may be helpful to look at what limits or blocks you may wish to put in place in places of gambling. To either avoid gambling ever again (and risk setting the events on motion) or at least to minimise the potential impacts.
Please be kind to yourself, you have noticed that this is a risk for yourself and now can take action. It also sounds like having savings build up/availability to money is a trigger for you so perhaps some work around feeling comfortable with money again in general would be beneficial. Restricting your access to money particularly when around the option to gamble could also help.
If you are in the UK feel free to call the Helpline on 0808 8020 133 to discuss this with an Advisor.
Best Wishes,
Louise
Forum Admin
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