Hoping for some advice - recovering gambler

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(@bocuma)
Posts: 1
Topic starter
 

Hi, I had a gambling problem for 5 years and lost a considerable amount of money in the process.  During that period, I had about 2 years of experiencing suicidal thoughts.  I managed to hide my problem from anyone for 5 years but in October last year, everything got too much for me and I blocked all my gambling accounts and went to the doctor for help.  I have not had a bet since October but in April this year my wife found out about everything and I have been seeing a counsellor since then.  

I am keen to understand the experience and feelings that other recovering problem gamblers have had.  I have had no urge to bet at all since I stopped.  Is this normal?  For anyone who has relapsed, did you have a period of time whilst trying to get help that the urge to gamble was gone?  Or was it always a feeling that had to try and be kept under control?  

My concern is that whilst at the moment I have no desire to gamble, that in future something may possibly be a trigger to the issue starting again.  

The ideal scenario would be for me to attend some kind of meeting with other problem gamblers local to me but obviously that isn't possible at the moment, so any help on how people have felt in the weeks/months after seeking help would be most appreciated.

Thanks for reading

 
Posted : 17th June 2020 7:33 am
DaveS1988
(@daves1988)
Posts: 63
 

Hi,

I'm pretty sure the GA meetings are being done on Zoom at the moment so it might be worth looking into it. They also do live chats on here I believe, where you could speak with other CG's. 

I think it's fairly normal to not have an urge to bet. You said you haven't gambled for 8 months which is pretty good going... keep it up! I expect you had urges at the beginning of your GF journey though. 

My last bet was 13/02/19, and I truly believe the reason I have been successful this time round is because I told my partner everything. She stayed with me and supported me by looking after my finances for a period of time. More importantly though it meant I was no longer living a lie and we all know this addiction feeds off of the lies. I also knew that if I ever gambled again she'd be gone, and that is more than enough for me to stay away for good. 

Make sure you've got the relevant blockers in place as a safeguard.

All the best, Dave. 

 

 
Posted : 17th June 2020 3:19 pm
(@kevthekev40)
Posts: 414
 

Hiya bocuma

I hope your well all I can do is tell you from my side of the fence, I went over a year not even thinking about gambling as I had lost and it had to all come out, My family where a good support But at the same time they never really understood how deep in I had got as I only told them what I had to. Well as I said I went over a year not even thinking or going near a bookmakers or online but on the 24th of April I got an email from a gambling site so I thought why not just  £10 can't do no harm well my friend that's the famous gamblers words 1hr later I was nearly  £8000 in debt. I'm not gambling or thinking about doing it now but that's only because I lost so much money I never even had so I know that for the rest off my life I can't gamble as I'm an addict and that will never change or go away so please work out how you need to go forward and don't fling your family away as I have

 
Posted : 17th June 2020 7:47 pm

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