Well done on making that step, the longest journey starts with a single step remember.

Hello Jemma 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!

Hi Gemma
That’s a great decision you made today and even better that you followed up with action .
I look forward to reading about your gamble free life

When I read your post – my first thought was that you sound really alone with all this. One of the things gambling does is cut you off from people. Not even to stay for dessert but instead rush to the inhumanity of the machines.

Great that you have banned yourself from places where you could gamble. Great that you have read around the forums. I hope you can feel able to join this community and maybe join a group (there are sessions for new people on Mondays (tomorrow) and Thursdays and I am sure you will be made welcome and given plenty of advice. I wish you well.

I dont go to the casino much for that very reason-it’s very difficult to look around and see yourself in others. I see the sadness, the desperation and the anger. I dont go for that reason and the biggest deterrent is the ride of shame home. I sometimes will think about the excitement of the ride there and the walking into the casino with the lights and the sounds, then I make my mind go to the walking out. The ride home. It seems endless. I feel lonely and helpless and so many other things that I only feel when I gamble there. I dont want to be one of those 85 year old people in the casino betting pennies and hoping for a miracle to save me. I dont want to be consumed like everyone else. Keep in your mind the feelings when you leave the casino. Unlike the ads, we are not the happy, excited ones cheering about our victory as we exit. Keep it in the front of your mind and the path of abstinence will be much easier 

Stay strong, you are consciously working to get your life back and sooner than later you will.

you got this.
positive vibes going your way.

Well done on your 3 weeks without gambling. I read somewhere that 21 days is the time your brain takes to change a habit, so it should start getting easier.

There’s definetely hope, one just has to forget about the money spent and realise this addiction has nothing to do with money, and specially that even if one wins, the money will be all gone in short time.