admitting my problem

[Guest]

First post and not sure where to start.

Admitting Ive got a serious gambling addiction is the hardest thing
Ive probably had to do.

Read the other posts and can relate to a lot of the stories.

Always thought I was a sensible person and then found online casino's and realised
what a complete jerk I could be. Thought I was in control and it was just a bit of fun, but
somewhere along that road I crossed a line into addiction.

Now I find myself at the end of the line, over my head in debt with nothing but a bleak
future ahead of me. How does this happen? what drives us to keep going back for more
when we know that its going to end badly. I think now I know it was depression and if I'm honest
was a sort of self harming, because even when I won I had to keep playing until I had lost everthing
and felt again that sick feeling of losing.

Always tried to convince myself that it would be "the last time" but never was.

Really dont know what to do to break this addiction and get my life back.

Would really appreciate any help or advice.

[Guest]

Hi mikey76

I think all gamblers relate to what you have said.
We all gamble until we are skint. We lie, cheat,steal,deceive...you name it, we do it.

The person we are most dishonest with is ourselves.
We "know" we can stop whenever we want to. <!-- s:oops: --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_redface.gif" alt=":oops:" title="Embarrassed" /><!-- s:oops: --> Yeah right....
We promise ourselves "I will not gamble again" <!-- s:oops: --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_redface.gif" alt=":oops:" title="Embarrassed" /><!-- s:oops: -->

We are under the power of this addiction. We can not control it. Once we start, we cannot stop.

The only control we have is to NOT gamble.

Go along to your nearest GA meeting. The people you meet there will be just like you.
Normal everyday people. Their only "crime" is that they have a gambling addiction.
They are there to help themselves and YOU abstain from gambling.

Best wishes
Roy