Hello and thanks for starting a thread in the Gambling Therapy forums

Here at Gambling Therapy we pride ourselves on being a caring and diverse online community who can help and support you with the difficulties you’re currently facing. We understand that this might be a tough time for you, particularly if you’re new to recovery, so come here as often as you need to and participate in the forums, access online groups and connect to the live advice helpline if you need one to one support. We’re in this together!

Here on the forum you can share your experiences in a safe, supportive and accepting environment. The beauty of writing it all down is that you can take your time and you will be creating a record of your progress that you can look back on if it ever feels like you’re not moving forward. So, share as much or as little as you like but do try to stick to keeping just one thread in this forum so people know where to find you if they want to be updated on your progress or share something with you.

As well as the forums New Members are invited to join Charles in the New Members Practical Advice Group On Mondays at 21:00 (UK) and Thursday at 19:00(UK)

And on that note….

I’m going to hand you over to our community because I’m sure they will have some words of wisdom for you 🙂

Take care

The Gambling Therapy Team

PS: Let me just remind you to take a look at our privacy policy and terms and conditions so you know how it all works!

The question to ask yourself is if you are an addict for life or living with addiction? I prefer living with addiction because it allows you to live with it but not let it control who you are. O come from s family with multiple addictions in the course of a few generations and they have learned to deal with them and live a life after full blown addictions. Mine is silent. No one knows. It is mine to deal with so I am in a position to avoid letting it define me in the family. I dont waht to be the aunt with the gambling in the family tree. To me using the term addict for life allows for the perception that it was out of control for the duration of your stay on this earth. Living with addiction means that you are doing just that- living and having the monkey take a back seat. I’m.in the driver seat at this point do I’ll be living with it but not necessarily enjoying its company.
Its semantics, I know. Maybe part ego as well. I live with my issues, all of them. Gambling is merely one

I agree with you. I hate the word “addict”. I hate labels. I have a behavioural problem with gambling. I see it as a problem that can be avoided by just not gambling. I don’t spend every second of my day craving it or feel that it’s invading my mind space. When I don’t gamble I feel good

“It is mine to deal with so I am in a position to avoid letting it define me in the family.” I felt the same when I realised I had s problem. I ended up telling my husband seconds after my big loss because the guilt just took over. I also felt I’d deceived him and owed him the truth.

Hubby and I talked about it last night and I told him I signed up for counselling and therapy where I’d need to go and stay at a “retreat”. He is 100% behind me with patience, love and understanding. I told him my fears and the impact gambling has had in me. I told him I was afraid of losing myself and my family.

This is a bad period in my life and it was triggered by huge changes that I have found hard coping with. There is so much to look forward to. Things will get better.