Hi Reallydumb,
A Warm Welcome to Gambling Therapy
It sounds to me that you are reluctant to take the necessary steps to fully engage with your recovery for fear of damaging your good reputation in the community. Do you see going to GA meetings as a sign of weakness or strength? In my opinion, its the latter. Who is the bigger man, the one who pussyfoots around making excuses as to why he cant go to GA and cant ask for support from his family or the one who holds his hands up, accepts when he is beaten and determines to do whatever necessary to get back up?
Your reputation as a financial planner will be gone forever if you dont take real action now. You can join GA now while you are still a financial planner or you can join GA later when you have sold your home and, potentially, are unemployed and insolvent.
Please dont think that your gambling will stop if you manage to pay off your debts. It will stop when you take decisive action, go to GA, go and see a counsellor/therapist again, tell your family (get it out in the open with them), let someone you trust take control of your family’s finances (a hard one for you, I’m sure), exclude yourself from venues, etc.
I apologise if what I say seems harsh but it comes with the best of intentions. Oh, and by the way, you are not really dumb. You are here reaching out for help, I hope you can find the strength to do what you know is necessary.
Having found us you have also found a diverse community who can help and support you on your recovery journey.
Here on the forum you can share your experiences in a safe, supportive and non-judgemental environment and by reading others stories am sure you will see that you are very much not alone in this addiction
Please click here to see our services page, feel free to use all that this site can offer…
To chat with others in real time you may wish to make use of the support groups, the ***** of these groups are advertised under "What’s on and When" or click here to see the weekly group schedule.
For one to one chat you may want to try the live advice helpline. Click "connect" when these options become available.
Also to say when you registered we would have sent you an email with an attachment, this attachment will help you navigate the site and find the support you so rightly deserve, alternatively this guide can be downloaded by clicking here.
Take Care
Mike
