Today is 5 years since I last placed a bet online, I posted on here in my very early days of recovery so I thought I'd write a few words, probably be a lot of words actually
My gambling started innocently online just an odd tenner here & there on football but it escalated out of control pretty quickly.
I had quite large sums of money in my bank account which wasn't helpful so I'd lose money then just be up all hours chasing it on whatever sport was going on, not really sure how I managed to function at work as some nights be up all night betting on some sport I knew nothing about.
After big losses betting on sport I found myself playing online blackjack & roulette which I found out was an even quicker way to blow money
After every bout of losing I'd cheer myself up thinking about how I'd win it back & look forward to betting again, it was a vicious circle.
My gambling was a secret not one person knew I had a problem, I blew lots of money but was never in debt always paid my bills & still had money for nights out, this probably went on for best part of 10 years until I hit my rock bottom.
I'd been away for a weekend then came back to work & found my job was changing massively someone came & did a training session & my mind just wasn't on it, I phoned in sick & spent the next 3 days gambling ridiculously on my phone, I lost 3 grand one morning playing blackjack in bed, that was my rock bottom I realised I had to get out of this mess or there was no point carrying on.
I closed all gambling accounts I had & took it day by day, in first 20 days or so I used to write some words on here which helped me, it does get easier, life is much better without the stress of online gambling now I'm so glad I managed to beat it, I managed to do it on my own, I now enjoy watching sport without thinking about stupid stuff like I need another corner to get that bet in.
My words of advice to anyone struggling is to admit defeat, the money lost is gone life without gambling is so much better than life with it, it takes over your life & you neglect things & people close to you, close all betting accounts & look to the future, cross the days off it does get easier day by day.
I actually told my story to a friend 18 months ago, it was got to get it off my chest I'd carried this on my shoulders for far too long, I messed up but we all make mistakes & now I'm enjoying life without placing any bets.
That's my story
That post hit home. £3k on blackjack in bed one morning?! You absolute soldier to bounce back from that and the gambling rut you were in. Proud of you. Great post and amazing story. 5 years - I want to get to your level one day 🙂 The hurt and neglect gambling causes is just too much!
Congrats Rich.
This is like reading a story about myself! In fact, I’m only here to check how close I am to 1000 days GF, but like you, was a daily visitor in those dark times.
Keep up the good work and being an inspiration to us all.
It may not seem it, but it is possible folks. Admitting the problem, getting blocks in place and promising yourself to move forward are some of the keys to success.
Well done on 5 years. What an achievement ?
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