[James 2017]

So I have reached an all time low.
I’m 27 years old and started gambling when I was about 20. I first stumbled across slots whilst betting football and I happened to have a nice little win. It was from this day that things took a turn for the worse. I would win a few hundred pounds at time and things were great but then reality hit me and I started to lose, and lose and lose. I’m not at the point where I’m around 12 grand in debt to family and friends. I have around 6000 in payday loans I can’t afford to pay and I have a further 4000 in credit cards.
All in all I’m around 25k in debt. I have no money my credit rating is awful and yet nobody knows. I have no one to turn to or to talk to and I’m all alone and depressed. If I had the courage I’d of ended this miserable life already.

I’m determined to stop gambling and tomorrow will be my first day of not having gambled I know over a few years I can pay all this back but it feels so far away I just need help and guidance

[velvet]

Hello James 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!

[Jonny123987]

Hi James,

I’m glad you are looking for help. That’s the first step of the process of getting your life back. The next thing you need to do is admit that you can never win because you are a compulsive gambler and can’t ever stop. Then you need to let go of all the money you’ve lost and to accept the debt you’re in. This terrible addiction costs a lot. All our figures are different but they feel the same. IT HURTS!!! Once you get those first things done you’ll need to ban yourself from all gambling options being the casinos, online sites, from your phone, and computer. You need to confide in a family member or friend that you can trust and most likely turn over all you’re money to them and have them help you recover from debt slowly.

Feeling how you feel and being down and in debt sucks man. I’m right there with you. To think of all of that all the time is debilitating. You and I need to focus on one day at a time. Just focus on getting through the day. Then get to day 2 and do the same thing. Lets do it together.

Jon

[charles]

Hi James,

Well done on looking for help.

You are not alone with this problem. Read the other stories here, you will see a lot that you will relate to, you will also see the success stories – what are they doing that you can apply to your own situation?

As you are talking about “punds” i am assuming that you are in the UK? You have a lot of help available to you. Here and other similar sites, Gamcare, Gamblers Anonymous and more. The important thing is to use that help – if we could do it on our own thennwe wouldn’t have the problem in the first place.

As Jonny has suggested it helps to get some barriers in place. If you owe friends and family 12k then at least some must suspect that there is some sort of problem, even if they don’t know what.

There are a lot of options around these days regarding the finances. The Citizens Advice Bureau or StepChange will talk you through those options and get you to a place where things are manageable.

The important thing though is to stop gambliong, otherwise of course sorting out the finances won’t be possible.

There is a lot of life after gambling I promise yopu, if you do have those thoughts though then there is always someone to talk to at http://www.samaritans.org/

I suspect that you will have had a fairly crap Christmas, it’s what you do NOW that will determine what future Christmases will be like.

Keep posting and let us know the positive steps you are starting to take.

[Paul2017]

Hi James,
you are not alone – I’m in a very similar scenario but this site does really help – it cant stop you from gambling but I find reading the messages gives me inspiration that WE CAN DO THIS…
you are not alone – all the helpers have been through what we are going through – keep coming back to this site… I am making it a daily routine when I sit at home in the night, knowing I want to gamble , but come here instead –
start the group sessions – they are brilliant…

You can change – we must believe we can change – we must make it a change for life…..

hope to hear from you.
Paul

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