I am 25 and a massive gambling addict. I earn on average £250 a week, this weekend I have blown nearly £2000, my worst weekend this year. I have been gambling for 6 years, and I just can't stop no matter what the consequences, I want it more than anything. I want to make my boyfriend proud of me, I want our unborn children to be happy. I have borrowed so much money this weekend, and now have to pay it all back, along with trying to find money to fund a new house. It's all so scary, I wish I could just know I will wake up and this nightmare would be over. This addiction would leave my body. I ask myself why I give the bookies so much money?? You just think one win will sort your problems out. Wrong. It creates them. I am so ready to give up, I really need this, my relationship isn't going to survive unless I stop right now. It's gonna be a hard road but I'm ready to kick gamblings a*s!!!
Coming here is a good start. You will read stories of other compulsive gamblers and realise that your not alone.
Its time we wised up and put measures in place in order to beat this addiction. I dont carry money or bankcards...iv handed all that other to my gf. Feels great because i cant gamble without these . I try keep busy too to keep my mind off gambling.
Lets beat this gnikcuf awful illness
Thanks. It's online gambling I struggle with. I'm switching banks and then my boyfriend is going to take control and just provide me with 'pocket money'. I think this is the only thing that will prevent me from gambling.
I woke up this morning and it's the first thing I thought off. God I hate it. Day 1.
Read some of the other diaries Angie and try and learn from their experiences. Tri
Horrendous couple of weeks. Met up with my counsellor on Friday, ready to start the 12 week programme. Really need this, can't wait to be rid of this horrible addiction.
Angie
Parent of a gambler speaking and as a parent this is what I would say to you -
Try and look at the positives in your life at the moment - i.e. your partner knows about your problem so there is now no secret - they are being supportive which is such a bonus for you - they are taking control of your finances and really will make it harder for you to spend and believe me that will eventually take a weight off your shoulders and take the threat of debt away. Also coming on here is the best thing for you to do because you will build up another support system here if you talk to the counsellors and listen and speak to the other people writing on here. So the most positive thing you are doing at the moment is really trying to help yourself by coming on here and getting the 12 week counselling at home - you are being very brave and not shying away from your problem, so good for you. If you stick to your plan for recovery and take every bit of advice that is offered it is possible to have a better life.
I wish you and your supportive partner good luck for the future.
Thankyou very much for the comment. Looking forward to having steps in place and paying debts off. Day 1 begins again tomorrow....
Couple of bad days, these debts just keep increasing and my mental state is getting worse. Oh how I wish I could go back a month.
Need support. Day 4
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Hey Angie , Weve all had the up and down day's love , every time you wake and the first thought of the day is about gambling but take it from me It's early doors for you and something youv'e done for many years isn't just going to go away without a fight now is it ? but it does get easier the longer you put between you and your last bet , the brain fog lifts and things will become a lot clearer .
When I first came here I was in a really bad place but slowly and One day at a time things have improved and I'm now just short of a year without gambling , that may seem like a long way off for you at the moment just as it did for me back then but day's add up to weeks and months .
Stay strong and keep focused on what and who your doing this for , deep breaths and little steps are sometimes the best way forward :)).
Were all in the same boat and can understand fully how your feeling, keep using this place to get your thoughts and feelings down or just to have a good old fashioned rant , as my old friend Oldham says " It's better to ramble than gamble " :)) .
Hi Angie,
I know how you're feeling, I was where you are just a few months ago. I was desperate, depressed, on the verge of failing my degree and losing everything I'd ever worked for. My parents had bailed me out for the last time and I was one bet from homelessness, but one day at a time things got better.
Counselling really worked for me - good that you've started that! I let my mum control all my finances, as you are doing with your bf, so keep that going!
Do you gamble on your phone? Because the thing that really helped me was that i sold my smarthphone and got one with no internet. It stopped me gambling on impulse when I was out and about. Maybe try and get rid of the device you gamble on for a while.
This is hard work, it can't be denied. Living with minimal internet access at 22 years old is tough and I fell out of the loop with a lot of friends, but my best mates stuck by me and now I'm back to living a normal life just about. I still take things one day at a time and still have my mum checking over my statements and finances, as I don't think I'll ever be 'cured,' but i passed my exams and have had a good summer saving and repaying debt and I'm now in a much better place. I have £7000 on a credit card and will be paying it off for 6 years on my new payment plan, but I have ebough to live and I actually enjoy life again!
I'd say definitely contact your banks, see if they can freeze interest and charges and see if they can block online spending. I kept gambling because the debt was overwhelming and I thought one big win would solve it, but even when i won, i never withdrew it and the problem kept getting bigger. All I ever really wanted was enough money to live and once I faced up to my problems and called my creditors we arranged plans so that I am still repaying my debt, but only what I can afford and at very low interest rates, so I've been able to enjoy my money again and even go on holiday.
Stop now! you're just a couple of months away from a much better life. Believe me! Just say to yourself 'what's gone is gone' and try and stop for good. Good luck! x
Hope your staying strong Angie xx
Thanks so much for the support everyone. This is going to be the hardest journey of my life but I really can't go back. Every day is a win for me and I have to keep going for the sake of my life, my friends and most importantly my family. I really want this. So bad. I can't give in this time. Thanks again, I love hearing positive stories x
hi angie, how old are you?, i think you are young enough to a/ beat this addication and b/pay off all your debts before you are much older, you will be debt free before you know it, think of it as an extra mortgage, dont keep gambling and lose everything
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