Hi
I am 27 years old and Ive battled with gambling addiction for a long time now, it completely took over my life and after a few failed attempts it has finally hit me that it must stop now.
January 2018 I was in roughly £6500 worth of debt, had taken out a dodgy car deal which eventually got repossessed as I couldn’t afford the repayments, and I was very low and came clean to my parents about my situation. It was one of the hardest things I’ve done, I was in tears in front of them both but the relief once I had told them I can’t even explain how much better I felt. I stopped betting, was paying off my debts, getting lots of overtime at work and saving money, I was in such a better state of mind, I was happy again. And then a few months later I fell back into the trap, the debt soon went back up from taking out payday loans and credit cards all to feed my terrible habit.
December 2018 I met the love of my life, and I am now a full time step dad to the two best little boys in the world and I love them dearly as my own. Throughout 2019, I was paying my debts off again and getting myself sorted. I’ve always paid my bills that’s one thing I have always made sure of, but my gambling was still out of hand. I work in an environment where everyone is gambling non stop, and I slipped back into it again. On Tuesday 25th February 2020 I placed my last bet which obviously lost, and I broke down. We had booked a family holiday back in august which I had plenty of time to save for and the balance was due on Thursday 27th feb 2020, and I’d gambled all my money away. I had to ring my dad In desperation to borrow some money, I was in tears again and as you can imagine he was so angry and disappointed in me but thankfully he lent me the money to get it paid off. I went out for a curry with him last night, we had a chat about what I’m going to do and how I’m going to get myself out of this mess, and I am now determined more than ever to turn my life around. I am lucky I am in a job which pays well and is allowing to me get myself out of debt, and to put some money aside too.
It shouldn’t have taken me this long to realise that this is doing so much damage to me and the potential damage it could do to my family. The thought of letting my girlfriend and kids down and losing them, as well as the disappointment and worry I’ve caused my parents has really hit home. I can’t do it to them and I can’t do it to myself anymore. I don’t need to gamble, I don’t need to win big, when I think about it I’ve already won. I have the most amazing family and friends, all you need in life is love and happiness. That’s all that matters. I don’t know what I’d do without my mum and dad and I am going to make them proud.
I have self excluded from every single betting app on the market, I’ve signed up to gamstop and I haven’t had a bet for 5 days now and it’s the best I’ve felt for a long time. The only way I can place a bet is by going to the bookies and luckily there isn’t one where I live, and I am not going to be driving to one just to waste my money.
I am looking for some advice on how to deal with the urge to gamble - any help would be great! I play football for a team on Saturdays, I am into weight training which keeps my mind busy. But any other advice on how to keep my mind from straying would be great.
For anyone reading this, if you are looking for someone to talk to please just reply, we are all in this together and we can help each other get through this. Gambling will not beat us.
Thanks for reading.
Dan
Hi Dan I'm on day 4 and so far so good, I have managed to keep myself busy so far but I would normally be at bingo tonight playing the slots so I'm feeling a little on edge. But this feeling is nothing not as bad as the feeling I would have after losing money on the slots and that's what I keep focused on. I never want to feel like that again.
Well done on taking this step.
Stay strong and positive x
Grimmo26,
In my book you are Mr. Lucky. You are 26 years old, you have a full and wonderful life ahead of you.
You are an addict and so am I, Get all the help you can, and read up as much as possible as to where you WILL END if you do not kick this addiction.
Although I refer to this as a cancer that keeps lurking within, and could re emerge at any time, You must believe that that Yes you can yes you will, and even the smallest commitment you have in life is bigger than a gambling addiction.
Stay on board with help for as long as you can, in terms of years, till you reach a point where you can say that I am not one of you guys.
Believe in your self and the wonderful opportunities that you have ahead.
I am 20 years older that you, and it is a lot more difficult picking up the lost years, and I would not wish my worst enemy that pain that a gambler goes through.
All the very best.
Hiya
Without sounding patronising well done for wanting to quit that's half the battle.
I am gamble free, I have been for nearly 6 months, my only regret is I wish it was sooner.
I was on here.one day and struggling with urges, this lady posted about a book called the easy way to quit by Alan Carr. Yes I know what your thinking I thought it too
How the heck could a book change me, but it did! It unravelled my thought processes and everything made so much sense. I had a treatment of CBT too and I'm in a very happy place right now.
Spend x
I'm in the process of reading that book. Oh wow it's so good. Would recommend to anyone with a ga x
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