[Chrisss]

Hi, my name is Chris I am 25 and I am full blown gambling addict, slot machines to be precise.
It all started when I was 19, when I visited my first casino. The first two years were pretty subtle, I won couple hundred, I lost couple of hundred.
When I was 22 it all went downhill and the addiction got a hold of me that I could have never imagined and I did things that are just horrible.
I played with money that was not mine, got fired from my job, because I had started to steal money, I even stole from my family and friends.
I gambled away three months worth of rent for the apartment that me and my gf were renting and had to come clean to her and tell her everything.
Then I promised myself that I would quit gambling. Since then I have relapsed more times that I can count, have continued to gambling with money that is not mine,
have been on the verge of suicide multiple times and actually planning it.
I have no brakes when I enter a casino, I don`t even care about the winnings anymore, I just want to gamble until I have gambled all the money that I have with me.
I want to change, I want to quit, I want to live again and feel alive, now I feel like a horrible shell of a person that I once was.
1 hour has passed since my last casino visit and I want to quit, I really do.
Tomorrow will be day 1 since I have not gambled.

[Steev]

as most of us know what it is like to relapse time and time again. However if you are having suicidal feelings – please speak to someone as soon as possible. The Samaritans or Befrienders international https://www.samaritans.org/ https://www.befrienders.org/ will listen to you in time of crisis.

All the information you need to stop gambling is on this site and you can read in the forums about people who have succeeded in staying stopped. All I can say is that you really need to put as much effort into your recovery as you did into your gambling – so get the best support you can – try self help either GA or similar – or if you can access it counselling. Turn your finances over to your girlfriend or someone you trust, ban and bar yourself from places where you gamble and keep busy with other things. I wish you well.

[portnoy58]

Hi Chris Powerlessness over gambling, which is what you describe in your post, is a truly desperate and desolate place. Suicide often seems an attractive solution and is very much a measure of your current low. The truth is it can get worse, and often does, and can mean jail or institutionalisation.

One sure thing is that if you stop, it can’t get any worse. This does not mean they will suddenly get better but they shouldn’t get worse and in time they usually get better.

Stopping and staying stopped is our bugbear. I can understand your sense of elation at being stopped for one hour. I genuinely understand just how you feel …. I found it virtually impossible not to gamble when I could access money. So things like withdrawal limits on ATM machines were a blessing in disguise for me. But I was back at it the next day when I could draw out more money. I should add by means of an explanation that most of my gambling was done prior to the full blown use of the internet for gambling.

Stopping is the issue. I genuinely recommend getting to a GA or equivalent meeting. You will draw reassurance from listening to people sharing their misfortunes. You will draw hope from hearing how people have stopped and turned around their lives. You’ll also benefit from hearing less fortunate people who have stopped and gone back at it and stopped again and gone back at it and stopped again and again ….

I found meetings really helpful and have little doubt they made the difference for me. It’s difficult to explain but I don’t think you can stop on your own. We need help and support. Plus it works.

Good luck and I hope you can convert your hours into days, your days into weeks, your weeks into months and those into years. Let me assure this can be done.

[dunc]

Hello 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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