10 years of this and I still haven't learned!

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Dan178
(@dan178)
Posts: 8
Topic starter
 

Hi ive just joined today, dont really know where to start! What I do know is that I need help now! It started just over 10 years ago when I was 19 (now 30) needed some money and thought i would try my luck on roulette in the bookies. From that day it had me couldn't put little in and get massive return! I always always put it back in but I never learnt! This was me for years banging away at the roulette everyday for about 7 years. Always depressed never had anything going for me. Was on a one way path to the noose! I met my partner and finally kicked the bookies out of my life. Didnt gamble for about a year. Then I found online gambling. Roulette and slots have spent absolute thousands. Won thousands then lost thousands again. Have put a oner on many of times tand got up to 5 grand and still within 10 minutes lost the lot. I gamble most of wages most weeks. I feel mentally ill for this hole time. Am on tablets for depression but my doctor does not know about the gambling. My little girl deserves more than this.
This is the first time I've said this out loud to myself. After just losing hundreds AGAIN.

I can do this please God.

 
Posted : 24th August 2018 5:52 pm
Forum admin
(@forum-admin)
Posts: 5946
Admin
 

Hello Dan178,

Well done for joining our forum and sharing your story.

It sounds like you have succeeded at times at living gambling-free, as you mentioned you were free for the first year of your relationship. This is really encouraging and hopefully you can use this history as evidence that change is possible. You did very well back then so it could be worthwhile to consider what you were doing differently then, what was supporting your recovery during that time, how were you were spending your days gambling-free. This might bring to light some relapse-prevention methods or recovery methods that could be useful for you to try again if they helped in the past.

0800 138 6518 is the freephone for GamStop, the national self-exclusion scheme for online gambling, they're available 8am to midnight, 7 days a week. If you have accounts with gambling operators not yet listed on the GamStop website, it would be a good idea to also self-exclude from them separately. GamStop don't offer total coverage yet, but more gambling companies should participate in their scheme in due course, and many of our forum members have said it has helped them a lot https://www.gamstop.co.uk/contact-us

It is good that you have used your GP for support, particularly for your low mood. If you call us on our freephone 0808 8020 133 or our netline, we can give you details of various ways you can get free therapy to support recovery from problem gambling. Those therapy appointments could be face-to-face, or if you prefer you could request telephone appointments or online sessions by live videolink. There may be a choice between group or 1-2-1. We can also give you details for Gamblers Anonymous meetings if you'd like to use peer support based on the 12 Steps. We are here on our freephone 8am to midnight if you want to talk.

Take care,

Forum admin.

 
Posted : 25th August 2018 10:43 am
Joe-90
(@joe-90)
Posts: 349
 

Hi Dan, get to a GA meeting. You will be surrounded by people who have gone through the same thing. Put all your energies into recovery and you can turn yourself around.

 
Posted : 27th August 2018 12:24 pm
(@gamhelp)
Posts: 53
 

Einstein famously said that "Doing the same thing over & over but expecting a different outcome is the definition of insanity."

I was exactly like you (started when I was 19 as well) but managed to break free. But I had to give up on the idea that I could do it on my own and needed help.

 
Posted : 28th August 2018 10:42 am
Dan178
(@dan178)
Posts: 8
Topic starter
 

Gambled this evening couldn't afford to lose it I am so ashamed. done 4 day and got the better of me, I have been looking at closest place for GA . Like you have said i keep telling myself I can do it on my own! I CANT. worse addiction ive ever had and I get addicted to everything i do.

 
Posted : 28th August 2018 8:06 pm
Dan178
(@dan178)
Posts: 8
Topic starter
 

Well 192days gf. At long last I am  leaving the dark days behind. 

 
Posted : 11th November 2019 10:24 pm
(@adam123)
Posts: 2795
 

wow gotta say didn't see that coming, horray, you turned it around. Well done. Congrats keep I going. Everytime u get a fleeting gambling thought use the knowledge that ur better off away from it.

 
Posted : 18th November 2019 7:35 pm

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