Hi JG You wrote: “The thing that gets me is that I enjoy betting, but know I need to stop or it will get to the stage where I can’t continue anymore.” Of course you enjoy betting … Everyone enjoys their addiction or it would be really easy to stop. The trouble is that your addiction can kill you – not just by suicide, but by worry, stress, health issues to do with not looking after yourself … I have even known of one cg being murdered from borrowing from the wrong sort of people …
You are not unsuccessful … you realise that you have the problem and you have come onto this site in order to stop. So what YOU need to do is 1) limit your access to gambling sites – ban yourself and / or put blocking software on your devices. 2) limit your access to money – find a trusted friend or loved one to handle funds or find some constructive way to limit the amount you can get hold of. 3) Get support – you say counselling didn’t work for you – try a different counsellor or a different type of counselling. Many on here recommend CBT … Go to a Gambler’s Anonymous meeting – there you will get tailored advice and support. 4) Find something else to do with your time. That may mean changing your friends and even your location – but, hey – that is a small price to pay to keep yourself alive.
If you are having suicidal thoughts – please get help straight away by contacting the samaritans – online or by phone. Keep posting here and maybe visit the groups where, again, you will hear other peoples’ stories. I wish you well.