I have been on and off here for a couple of years now, I stop gambling, start getting myself out of a hole then as soon as I have money again I gamble. I have joined the sense program and am excluded from all casinos in uk and online also excluded from the bookies. I last gambled yesterday in the bingo and lost my last £1000, I am in debt all together for around £55000, I earn good money so paying it back is doable but I will be using most of my wages each month to pay it all as quickly as possible I have set myself a goal of being debt free in 3 years. I cant believe I have got myself in this position again its been ongoing for years, I can stop when I need to but I always go right back to it, I need to figure out how to stay stopped forever so that I can enjoy life again, Its the lying and stress from trying to act like all is good in life yet I have this unspoken disease that a lot of people cant understand. My family knows I gamble but not that i'm addicted. I have no one to talk to about it. However I am determined that yesterday was my last day of gambling, so I am going to try and post on here as much as I can because it makes me feel like I have someone to talk to.
Thanks for listening Chris
I wish I had your strength! Stay strong ??
Thanks I hope I have the strength to continue.
Dear needtostopnow,
Thank you for your post to the forum; it sounds like you have thought a lot about where you are now and where you hope to get to in the future, while identifying your gambling patterns to date.
You have made a really positive start in registering for self-exclusion both for the casino and the bookmakers and have set yourself a tough but achievable goal to repay your gambling debts over the next three years.
I would also recommend considering treatment support which will give you more of an understanding of the cycle of gambling addiction and the different ways in which the gambling has impacted on you. This could be particularly useful if you feel that you don't really have anyone to talk to or who understands.
Please do keep posting on the forum for support as well; we wish you all the very best.
Forum Admin
If you find the answer let me know! On a horrible round about of losing and getting depressed about it, should be spending money on better things for family. Good luck mate
Hi needtostop, perhaps you should call Gamcare and speak to someone?
I’d also suggest confiding in a family member.. It will be a difficult conversation but they may be able to offer you support .. Perhaps let them have access to your bank account as a deterrent.
Good luck with your journey
Thanks for the reply but I couldnt tell my family how far in I have got with it but, I think now I have hit rock bottom and I have to do this myself. I have set up all my bills and repayments to come out of my account on the day I am paid so I wont have any extra to gamble and the way I feel now I cant see myself wasting anymore money or time on slot machines.
Well day 2 is over, been at work all day and not thought about gambling, so for me today was a good one.
Day 3 is over I am home now, not thought about gambling at all, I get paid Friday but I know I wont spend anything because I have set up for it all to go out on pay day to bills and debt, looking forward to seeing my debt reduced for once instead of adding to it. I am getting strength from reading other peoples story's just knowing I'm not the only one feeling this way.
roll on day 4
Chris
day 5 no gambling, had a few thoughts about it today but only because I had no work, but I ignored it and got through the day, early night tonight, work tomorrow.
Wishing you good luck Chris
day 6 over and feeling a lot better about myself, payday tomorrow but I have all my money going out to pay debts first thing, wont have enough left to gamble it feels good to be broke and my debt reducing, rather than being broke and debt escalating, its funny the things that make us gamblers proud.
I know I can do this.
well got paid yesterday most of my money went out in the morning on bills and debt, then the evening came and I had £700 left went to the bingo and blew the lot in a slot machine all the while the voice in my head telling myself to stop and don't spend it all but I couldn't, I just thought one big win and i'll be even. feel sick with my self. I have now cancelled my membership so I officially can't go anywhere to gamble now thank god. so today I start again day 1.
well got paid yesterday most of my money went out in the morning on bills and debt, then the evening came and I had £700 left went to the bingo and blew the lot in a slot machine all the while the voice in my head telling myself to stop and don't spend it all but I couldn't, I just thought one big win and i'll be even. feel sick with my self. I have now cancelled my membership so I officially can't go anywhere to gamble now thank god. so today I start again day 1.
I found in the early days if I pay spare money off debt straight away it will limit the temptation and also get the debt down quicker.
if you are committed to this you will do that next time.
good luck, start again
on day 4 now feeling good today, barred myself from the bingo so now there is nowhere I can gamble, have lowered my limit for withdrawals on my bank card to £50, I have also quit smoking i started cutting down over the weekend and today is day 1 smoke free, may as well quit all my bad habits in one go.
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