Gambling affecting mental health time to stop

 Hi aliwonton1,

Well done for posting and sorry to hear about your recent relapse .

We understand the mental strain that gambling can cause and like you say it's so important to stay on top of your mental health and look after it. There's lots of support available to help with this and you are never alone. 

If you do find yourself having these thoughts and feelings then I would encourage you to make an appointment with your GP surrounding this . There's also organisations like the Samaritans 116 123 and CALM. 0800 58 58 58

Please feel free to contact the GamCare Helpline on 0808 8020 133 or Netline to explore the additional support available to you. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week if you would like to talk to one of the GamCare HelpLine advisers.

It's a big positive that you see this as a wake up call and a new beginning and now you can look forward in your gambling recovery.

All the best 

Kirk 

Forum Admin

Day 5 GF. Feeling a bit better about everything. First weekend of the football season and managed to keep busy and focus on the real things in life that matter. Gambling is a mugs game. 40 next month. Time to start a fresh and achieve all my goals. I am a compulsive gambler and never know when to stop.

They say life begins at 40 ? and what a life it will be being gamble free and being able to enjoy it without the awful cloud gambling brings over us.

I had been a compulsive gambler for 12 years, I was 19 when I first started, once i had no money left I would start using the credits cards, this is when it started to get out of hand because I couldn't ever physically win the money as it would only go back on the account. It was the fix of winning, but I wasn't a winner, just another loser  chasing losses. Destroyed my credit score because I couldnt afford to keep up with repaying money I had accumulated.  I'm now 32 and I'm 109 days gamble free, never in my life did I think I could pull it off but it feels amazing. Once you come our of the gambling trance you really can get to grips with the addiction and start enjoying life again without all the stress gambling brings. You can do this, keep going and well done on day 6

Hey secretaddict thanks so much for your comments and your so right. I gave up before my last relapse for 325 days and felt amazing. One day into relapse. Felt like c**P an depressive state all because 1 bet and you think I will be able to control it. We never will. We are compulsive gamblers. The truth be told be told we are never happy until we have lost everything. New beginnings and concentrate on the important things in life. Well done on your 109 days GF its a great achievement. Every day they goes past I am getting they happiness back within myself. 

GF 19 days and another weekend GF. Feeling more positive and focused. Just taking it day by day. What a difference just under 3 weeks can do for your mental health without gambling. No more chasing my life away. Keep strong folks.

93 days GF. Not been on for a while. Been taking every day as it comes right now. since I have been last on I have passed my driving test. With not gambling I have gave everything to my driving. With not all my focus on my next winner I have turned it into my driving. Life after gambling really dose exist. I am making big dents into my debt and slowly making a difference to my mental health. Never in my life did I think gambling would effect my mental health. How wrong could I be. Stay strong folks. There is life after gambling. 

Hi Ali

Thank you for sharing your progress! Congratulations on passing your driving test. Sounds like it was well deserved. Congrats also on 93 days gamble free, and here's to the future.

Best wishes

Deirdre
Forum Admin

Day 124 GF. Life is good at the moment. Every day that goes past I am getting stronger on repairing my last relapse and pray to god it’s my last ever. When ever giving up gambling give up completely. Once a Compulsive gambler always a Compulsive gambler. Stay strong everyone. Believe me it gets easier. Sometimes you think it won’t but if you stay strong it will. No Xmas stresses with gambling losses this year. Life is to short to stress about gambling losses. Live life the best you can every day as tomorrow is not guaranteed. 

Day 199 GF. In really good place at the moment. Times I wonder how I ever gambled. One thing for sure for the rest of my life I will have to life with being a compulsive gambles. I hope everyone is staying strong.

Day 214 GF. Not had any urges in months. But today everyone and anyone talking about Cheltenham. Gets the head thinking. I have had a long and think and defo realising I can’t go back the way. My future has to be GF. I suppose being a compulsive gambling addict. Keeping busy with golfing and taking my mind off it all. Take every day as it comes and stay positive. Any sign of weakness and it could be game over.