Hi Russ,
First of all thanks for sharing and well done for doing it, it takes real courage to share and in truth it took me years before I would share any experiance like that with others.
What I share with you now is for yours and my benefit, yours in the hope it helps in some way and mine because by sharing it helps me remember what gambling does to me.
I am 39 years old, have always worked, had very many good jobs and some not so, I started gambling when I was around 14 years old, my first bet was a win and that set the tone, over the last 25 years I have gambled off and on, more on than off in all honesty and finaly admitted I had a problem around 5 years ago, I have been in and out off recovery over that time but still struggling to stay clean, periods of over 1 year gamble free but many periods when struggling to get through one day.
Russ you are a young person and I would hate for you to follow down my path, the gambling just takes hold, it gets you, it will not let go and it will destroy everything good in your life, I have had friends that are no longer in this world because gambling took them to the edge and then tipped them over, I lie, cheat, steal, manipulate and many other bad things to fuel my next bet…………..sometimes becoming a compulsive liar and not really knowing it, a very good friend said to me once and this is how it gets you “I told a lie about a lie and then I lied about that”………..now this statement always makes me smile because it sounds so stupid but believe me it happens.
I am still in this world and I thank God for that, I have still managed to keep hold of my wife and 2 wonderful children but Russ that is more by luck than judgement.
I rent my house, I have no savings, I have no possession’s, my life is this, here and now, this is me and all I have is my words and self belief……..gambling has cost be many things in life Russ, financially I would struggle to put a figure on it but well in excess off £200000 but in truth I have lost so much more……the time gambling as taken away from me and as we all well know time is priceless.
Russ I wish you well my friend, you sound like an intelligent person, so go and enjoy your life and steer well clear from this insane addiction, wish you well and take care.
“once I make that first bet I just cant stop until it’s all gone, therefore we must always stay away from that first bet”
Maverick