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Gambling has ruined my life
#1
I am a 29 yr old guy who has been gambling since the age of 18 yrs. Not until last year though was it a major factor in my life. It all started in May 2009. Before all this i was very level headed and was well in control with my finances being well infront in terms of mortgage and other bills.
I then went onto online casinos.
First i went on for fun just looking to pass some time, then from the very first day i played i was hooked because i was chasing a loss.
It came to a point where i was thousands down and i started to play big to bring back the loss. I actually dropped a win bringing back the loss and breaking myself even and where i should of actually stopped i carried on because i thought i could actually get that big win again. I ended up losing tens of thousands of pound in about 4 or 5 months and was forced to remortgage my home and get other loans. I then stopped playing and thought i had got myself back on my feet, 6 months off gambling and working hard to repay my debt, but then a friend started playing on the online casinos infront of me not knowing my problem and it started again. I have just lost tonight and have lost thousands since December. To cut a long story short i sit here today wondering where to turn and not tending to the most important things in life i need to do. I need to sort this problem out before it takes over my life completely. I am hoping maybe talking to people with the same problem will start to put me off altogether because all i can think about is trying to get the debt back through gambling and i know it isnt the way forward. All i can say is it isnt an enjoyment anymore its a very unhealthy addiction that i need to avoid and take a trip to GA to see if i can put a stop to it altogether.
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#2
Hi Gary,

Your story is very sad, and to any member of G.A, very familiar. You are wise to decide to stop before it 'takes over your life completely'.

The best advice I, or any compulsive gambler using this forum can give you, is to get to a meeting as soon as possible. You don't say where you are, but there are meetings all over the country. The G.A. helpline on 02073843040 can tell you your nearest, or there is a list on this site.

As you say 'maybe talking to people with the same problem' is the key, and meetings are where this will happen for you. The strength in the G.A. fellowship comes from the stories and experiences of others- and you will hear and meet people whose problems were as bad and worse than yours, and who have sucessfully stopped gambling completely for months, years and decades.

Good luck.
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#3
Your story is so like mine it's uncanny, I never had any real problems until the "online revoloution" came along and that with the invention of those horrible machines in the betting shops turned me into someone I didnt like very mcuh & still dont. Today a mere few days after yourself I have also decided to take the same course of action and hope to rebuild my life from the foundations that I still have but are rapidly crumbling under my feet.

I'm trying hard to be as upbeat as I can and am looking foward now because what's done is done and nothing will ever change that.

I wish you all the best in your quest to defeat your problems and build a better life.
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#4
Hi Gary,

I, like you, have recently realised the extent of my problem and have wondered what I am doing to my life. For me it was online poker. The first time around I had that big win that would have set everything straight and I lost it all. The first time I came clean I thought that would be it but the amount I had lost still played on my mind. A few months later I thought I could get it back and that I would be much more controlled this time. I knew my mistakes from the last time so it would be fine. Needless to say it didn't happen (and was never going to) and I have lost a vast sum of money. After coming clean to all with my family, my partner and myself it feels different. The money I have lost this time is much more than the last but I have no desire to get it back like before. I just want to get the real me back and the trust of the people I love.

Reading through this forum at my lowest point really helped me to realise what I need to do. I am going to my first GA meeting on Monday and getting counselling also.

I hope it works out for you and I hope you go to a meeting too.
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#5
Hi Gary,

We have a lot in common. The meetings are listed here on t'internet, just look to your right and click your mouse on the region nearest to you (North East down to Scotland as listed). A drop down list of meetings will then appear in alphabetical order of town/city name. Clicking on one takes you to the address and clicking on the blue writing gives you a map - neat eh? <!-- s:mrgreen: --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_mrgreen.gif" alt=":mrgreen:" title="Mr. Green" /><!-- s:mrgreen: --> All paperless. <!-- s:mrgreen: --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_mrgreen.gif" alt=":mrgreen:" title="Mr. Green" /><!-- s:mrgreen: --> Not all the on line revolution alluded to by "newhope" is negative. The internet has revolutionised most things in life (including gambling). It is possible to lose a fortune, literally in a click. You can phone the helpline as given by Matt. The important thing to do is to get to a meeting. Have you "taken a trip to GA" yet? If not, today is a good day to do so. Today is Friday, I used to get paid weekly in a brown envelope on a Friday (i'm not that old, up North some firms still do that <!-- s:lol: --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_lol.gif" alt=":lol:" title="Laughing" /><!-- s:lol: --> ) then I would go and have a couple of beers, probably put a few pounds in the bandit and wobble off home. Saturday was my main gambling day and I never worked overtime on a Saturday afternoon. As things escalated, every day I had money became a good day for a bet (and I was using a giro not a wage packet), I just needed to tinker a bit with my "system" <!-- s:roll: --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_rolleyes.gif" alt=":roll:" title="Rolling Eyes" /><!-- s:roll: --> and then i'd be a millionaire. If you cannot get today, don't wait for next Friday go as soon as you can. You will be made welcome and others will be pleased to see you. I have benefitted from typing this in, last night I benefitted from attending a meeting and communicating face to face with other people who share my problem compulsive gambling.

There is no substitution for meetings. Get to one as soon as you can - today is a good day to go, after all you'd put a bet on today so why not go to a meeting instead?

Well hope this reaches you in good health.

'Poster' David (Barnsley)
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#6
Hi Gary I am in the same boat only to be feeling very low. I have been gambling for approx 10yrs now, It kind of started getting worse over the past 2-3yrs when I discovered Ladbrokes. I thought I had turned a corner as I hadnt been gambling for months, then I went back last October it started with a win of approx and over 2months I find i had won, then comes this Jan where I had blown the lot. Started to go back & planned my budget, slowly regained most of my money till last week. No matter what I cant get over this feeling, I tried yesterday again won, then gave it back hours later. One thing I have learnt is you cant come out of these places even when your winning, people have said they could wish they made some of the winnings I make but the difference is they would walk out, why cant I walk out no matter how big a win I make?
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