Hi,
I have and still am a compulsive gambler and have been for the last 10 years. I believe that I have now hit my lowest point. I was confronted by my parents around a month ago after a debt to a spread betting company came through there door. They have helped me out on numerous occasions and did again clearing the debt and my overdraft.
At the time I was still in gambling frame of mind and desperate to just win a few quid here and there unfortunately as I’m sure you know and I know it doesn’t happen like that I lost around £500. Since then I’ve hit rock bottom opening my only online account after SE from numerous others. I only opened it for a bet on Leicester to beat Chelsea but then found the casino losing around £2k. I am absolutely gutted that I have blown my chance to have my debts clear and a great start but mainly letting down and failing the people that have put the trust in me to sort myself out my parents who have been my rock and my girlfriend who is pretty much oblivious to everything that has happened in the last 9 months.
Now I am trying a different approach and going to post on here for support and was thinking of writing a blog and document outgoings and money that I can save to clear the overdraft. Also return to the gym and lose some weight to make me feel better in myself . My goal at the end of it is that have cleared the overdraft and be able to propose to my girlfriend. Any hints and tips would be appreciated. I have spoke to gambling helpline and gained a referral to a councillor that I am going to meet and excluded from my local shops .
So today is day 2 of not gambling but I’m still thinking about how I can get the money back that I have lost and save money for my holiday in 7 weeks. But I am determined to kick this awful habit and get money by saving and reach my goals that I have set myself.
Still appreciate any hints of tips that others have used to take there mind of things and change there thought process.
Stop thinking about how you can win the money back. You might win a bit but then you will lose that and then lose more.
I am now over 100 days gamble free and never thought I would get there. The two best things I did was start a diary on here and update it every day and order a new debit card and have my girlfriend scratch out the security number. I now have no idea what my card details are so cannot gamble online anymore.
I have been with my girlfriend for almost 3 years, during this time I had 2 periods where I lost £500-£1000 in a couple of weeks.
My girlfriend supports me now through trying to get over this horrible addiction but said she cannot go through it again with me. I have had to stop for me and my relationship and that is what I have done.
I still have urges and thoughts of gambling but that is nothing compared to being glued to my phone for 3/4 hours a day like i used to be.
You can stop but you have to put the blocks in place, good luck
Thanks for your comments. Yeah the daft thing is I’ve put my girlfriend through it all before but don’t really think she understands the full issue.
I will be keeping a regular diary and this is the first time I have done this I’ve put blocks on my phone to gambling sites.
Going to write down my l debts and work an affordable plan to clear these and save money for other things to try and appreciate the value of money again while focusing on my career.
Once I hit milestones do certain things maybe a new t shirt or football boots at Day 100 etc.
I know it’s a long road and need to change my trade of thought.
Hi the problem is you're not admitting you're a compulsive gambler and therefore cannot win because you cannot stop. Also bailouts from parents etc, set you free to gamble again. Both your partner and parents need to realise that this doesn't help you stop. The money is gone, you have to accept that. All of you need help and advice to stop the same behaviour repeating the same cycle. GA and gamanon meetings are real life support. Don't underestimate how much this affects the people around you. If you really want to stop, stop taking money from others.
Thanks for your comments as harsh as they are the opening statement of my original post states that I am a compulsive gambler and have been for years I’m aware of that and I am determined to kick this awful habit.
Also I have stated that the money shouldn’t have been taken. I am determined to beat this horrible addiction and have been in contact with the sites that you have mentioned and not looking for a easy way out.
Day 2 completed. The hard part starts over the next few days as have always bet on the Premier League darts on a Thursday to start a weekend of betting rugby union on a Friday morning and football from Friday to Sunday. But determined to get through it.
Dier85 wrote:
Day 2 completed. The hard part starts over the next few days as have always bet on the Premier League darts on a Thursday to start a weekend of betting rugby union on a Friday morning and football from Friday to Sunday. But determined to get through it.
Just take it a day at a time. Work through day 3. Once through day 3, remember you are on the other side of being a week gamble free.
Remember it's a lottery, it's wasting money that you can use on productive stuff.
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