I did something similar to you, I ran myself into about 150-200k in debt before everything came out. I picked up a second job (see my thread) and then a third. It took me almost 2 years of putting everything from my second job towards my debts to finally become debt free. I’ve been GF for almost 3 years, and am now living the life I want, atleast financially. I have 4 kids, a beautiful home and am making great financial decisions.
It took you a long time to make the debt, and its going to take a long time to fix. There is no easy fix. Dont get discouraged, resist the urge to try and do it all fast, there are no shortcuts to this. It takes hardwork and dedication, but once you quit gambling and making progress, the veil will be lifted from your eyes and you wont believe how you used to live.
As I was making my *final* payment, my wife found a letter in the trash about a loan repayment; everything came out. I had been working the second job in secret (at the same time as my primary job) and my plan was to pay it off and move along like it never happened. Now, to be fair, it was much easier to get her forgiveness after the loans had been repaid, if she found out when I was at rockbottom I dont think it would have gone as well. But the point is, you need to be honest with those people around you so they can keep you accountable. Once I told my wife everything, it was such a burden relieved. We talk about my gambling from time to time, and it reminds me how far I’ve come.
It’s not going to be easy, but nothing worth it is. I can promise you, gambling is NOT the solution to ANY of your problems.