Hi guys,
So this all feels very strange to me. I think I have known for a while that I have a gambling problem. Ive known it but done nothing about it. I kept kidding myself that I was ok or I would win some money and think see its all ok! I used slots and bingo as a form of escapism from all my problems. Silly really but it made sense at the time.
I began gambling by accident really. I went to a bingo hall for somebodys birthday. They gave us a voucher to use online. I won £1500 with that free voucher and thats where it all went wrong. I kept thinking "oh why not!" "I might win again!"
At the time I was in a job that didnt pay well. Dont get me wrong my family had a nice home etc but we didnt have thousands in the bank. I had gone through a nasty break up and was very depressed. The thrill of a win made me feel better. Then I started experimenting with slots and to begin with it was just small amounts but now its hundreds. I am finally ready to say I HAVE A PROBLEM. I cant control it but I want to! Its 26/11/15 and I want this to be the last day I ever gamble. Whether it will be remains to be seen.
I think some of the reason why I didnt think I had a problem was because I will often go days and days without gambling so its not like it rules my whole life. I know its silly to do it and there are times when I can leave it alone. However once I start I cant stop. I think that I will just do a few quid then I lose most if not all of my pay packet. I need to find a way of stopping that. Of just not logging on. I will find the bingo hard as I have made friends with people in chat rooms and I dont want to lose them. However I cant log on and not play that wont work for me!
I am a manager I spend my life organising things and people but I cant seem to do it to myself. I have a great job and fantastic friends. I have always found relationships difficult as I feel like I dont deserve it. I grew up witnessing bad relationships and things I enter into myself tend to go wrong. Maybe thats the void that I fill with gambling sometimes? I was in an abusive relationship and it tore my confidence to shreds. Im trying to work on that.
I am in debt and I really shouldnt be. I am taking some small steps to sort that. Little by little I will get there but I feel a bit lost. Has anyone got any ideas? Ideas on how to resist that urge. Ideas on things to do to distract myself. I dont want to have to go to a gp the thought of that is too much for me.
Thanks in advance.
Could check out your local Gamblers Anonymous meeting. There you will find all the hope, experience & support you will need.
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Thank you
Hi and welcome to the forum !
I think you've worked out already that you are like us all , a Compulsive gambler !.
Firstly well done for coming on and admitting the problem you have , thats a great first step and one of the hardest to admit to . You describe your first big win , thats where it really starts for most of us , all of a sudden we believe we can win big everytime we bet and dream we can live from our winnings , sound's a great life eh?.
Reality is that as compulsive gamblers, we can't win because we cannot stop ! and thats where the problem start's .
It becomes no longer about the money , only the rush we get from the bet , that first fix is the best one , the rest get more frequent and a lot more expensive trying to get the same high's we first experienced !.
The good news is that youve come to the right place , full of great stories and packed with years of gambling experience this forum is loaded with great advice on staying gamble free.
The most important is to break what is known as the Time , money location triangle , if you remove one you can't bet , so if its online betting then install blocking software , if its bookies then you can self exclude .
You talk of the friend's youve made on the chatrooms and not losing them ?, the trouble is you need to distance yourself from gambling full stop , there's a saying on here that " if you hang around a barber shop long enough , your gonna get a haircut " and as strong as you may feel , temptation and the old gambling devil . will come a calling !.
On here your never on your own , it's a great place to share feelings and seek advice from people who know what your going through .
As regard yourr debt , obviously I dont know what figure that is or how much of a problem its going to be to repay ? but maybe give the gamcare team a call , they can give you advice on debt management and also the blocking software we spoke of .
I wish you well for now , take one day at a time and keep posting ...................... Alan CG
Hi and welcome to the forum !
I think you've worked out already that you are like us all , a Compulsive gambler !.
Firstly well done for coming on and admitting the problem you have , thats a great first step and one of the hardest to admit to . You describe your first big win , thats where it really starts for most of us , all of a sudden we believe we can win big everytime we bet and dream we can live from our winnings , sound's a great life eh?.
Reality is that as compulsive gamblers, we can't win because we cannot stop ! and thats where the problem start's .
It becomes no longer about the money , only the rush we get from the bet , that first fix is the best one , the rest get more frequent and a lot more expensive trying to get the same high's we first experienced !.
The good news is that youve come to the right place , full of great stories and packed with years of gambling experience this forum is loaded with great advice on staying gamble free.
The most important is to break what is known as the Time , money location triangle , if you remove one you can't bet , so if its online betting then install blocking software , if its bookies then you can self exclude .
You talk of the friend's youve made on the chatrooms and not losing them ?, the trouble is you need to distance yourself from gambling full stop , there's a saying on here that " if you hang around a barber shop long enough , your gonna get a haircut " and as strong as you may feel , temptation and the old gambling devil . will come a calling !.
On here your never on your own , it's a great place to share feelings and seek advice from people who know what your going through .
As regard yourr debt , obviously I dont know what figure that is or how much of a problem its going to be to repay ? but maybe give the gamcare team a call , they can give you advice on debt management and also the blocking software we spoke of .
I wish you well for now , take one day at a time and keep posting ...................... Alan CG
Sorry , fat fingers double clicked !!
Hi Alan and Dean.
Thank you for your responses. I know you are right and I am about to go onto all the websites and exclude myself from them. As I said I dont do it everyday but when I have a bad day and feel down or have too much time on my hands I do. Its become a bit of a coping mechanism for me and I need to find another way.
Coming on here and chatting instead is bound to help.
I feel like I have taken a big step today and Im proud of myself as I have tried to live in denial for too long. Its time to change.
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