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Hello guys, I will start with introducing myself and then will try to give you an idea about my life and my story.
Ø How old am I and when did I start gambling?
I am a 20 years old guy, who got introduced to the game (Gambling) at the age of 17.
Ø How I started gambling?
Through a friend of mine (he isn’t a friend, but I was dumb).
Ø Am I in debt?
Yes, and I have a plan to pay my debt off, at the start of 2020 I won’t be owing money to anyone
Ø Did gambling affect my life?
Yes it almost destroyed me and I almost lost my family forever.
Ø Did I finally stop gambling?
YES, YES and YES, God finally showed me the way, my last bet was 30 Days ago.
Ø Will I keep updating my Journal?
Yes, I was thinking of updating my journal every week on Sunday.
And now to the Story:
I don’t really know, if it’s the happiness or the loneliness that making me write my story down. However, I was a normal guy like everybody in my age until the summer of 2016, It all started as a friend of mine said, let’s try this game which was roulette, I started betting on that day with 25$ as I remember, Having no clue what kind of hell is waiting for me, won a couple of bucks and then went all in and lost it all, it was funny and it became fast my new game (habit). One week later, I had a strong Urges to gamble again and I had a lot of money for someone in my age (although my parents aren’t that rich but I used to save money since I was kid) I had a couple of thousands maybe 3 or 4. I watched gamble videos and have read a lot of Articles about how to get better and started to bet again every couple of days with 50$ and the 50$ went to 100$ and so forward until I gambled my last cent. I used to gamble online (Roulette & Black Jack) every day on my mobile or Pc, the good boy who used to go to the school every day is now going to the school 3 days instead of 5 days a week and is always too late because he couldn’t sleep well after every night that he has lost money in. My parents started to feel, that there’s something wrong with their son and started to ask me if there is anything they can help me with? I used to tell them it’s only the exams and the school stuff, as every gambler I think I tried to hide the truth, thinking I won’t hurt them so, instead of admitting that I have a problem and ask them for help! I lost in over three years more than the money, I lost my parents trust (after they found out that I was gambling) after I told them I won’t gamble again before, I also spent three years of my life living a fake dream and a lie, I’ve thought of committing suicide more times than you can imagine, but never had the strength to commit it (I thank GOD I didn’t have it!). You guys maybe think 3 years aren’t that bad and I still young (20 years old) and have a bright future, but I see it different and I have to take the responsible of my acts and I have to feel bad about what I’ve done, since it will help me improving myself. Now let us come to the sunny side, I finally decided to leave gambling after 3 years of loneliness after 3 years of lying to myself after 3 years of living in the hell. With GOD help I decided to stop gambling. On 08.March 2019 I did bet my last bet. It took me 3 years to be 30 days gambling free. I’ve never thought I will reach this ever, my best thoughts were to be gamble free for a couple of days.
I want to thank everybody has told me I could beat this habit and special thanks goes to Charles, You should be proud of yourself, you absolutely helped me changing my life.
Thank you for reading this feel free to comment! And I wish us all to stay away of this cancer.
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Hello Ad 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!
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I agree. It’s can spiral our of control in a instant. online it the worst as it doesn’t feel like real money. I once won 10k online but lost it within the hour. I am on the same path as you I have been gamble free for 25 days. Good luck my friend
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Gambling is portrayed as more innocent than it is. “oh just swing in and have some fun” …
There really is a true evil behind its very existence and those who benefit from making gamblers out of people. It’s as much a distortion and perversion of truth and values on the side of the House as it is the players.
Your journey (and mine) to end gambling is one of standing up firm in what is right against what is not — both subjectively and (I feel it’s fair to say) objectively. Within ourselves and within this external force itself.
It’s an external force that will push and push and push its way until it becomes an internal force pushing from the inside out … it’s no different than a virus or parasite …
Wishing you much support and upliftment/empowerment on your journey to pay off debt (i’ve been shaving my student loan down myself) and free yourself from the endless deceit of gambling.
Make today gamble free <3
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Its good that you are realizing this at a young age. Online is the worst…I won a lot of money too and did not take the money out but lost it so fast. The high of winning made me think I could win it again, but I just kept losing or winning some and then losing again. I never got back up again and now I am stopping because it is not worth losing your life over.
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You said, “I feel lonely, because i used to gamble for hours a day… ”
This puzzled me because I never found gambling to be a social experience. I know there are different forms of gambling but even when we are in company (as in a betting shop or a casino) we are still very much on our own with what we are doing.
I wondered if you saw gambling as your friend – whom you have now abandoned for a new life. If so, then I would be looking to replace that friendship with another – either find friends with the same (non gambling interests) as you have – or indeed make friends from other non-gamblers through local groups. Loneliness could become a trigger for you and I would try and eliminate as much of those as possible.
You say you are really busy – is this with work. Make time for the things that you left behind when you took up gambling – get out away from the on-line environment if you can.
It is great to see you being positive and I hope you can continue to enjoy your gamble free life.
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