[Thefallenone]

Hi everyone, I am new to this site.
I grew up poor in Canada from an immigrant family. My dad had a good job, my mom stayed at home. However, they were both gambling addicts. I hated what they did to my childhood, but i still love them so much. They aren’t bad people, they just don’t realize they have a problem.
As i got older, i realized i had a gambling problem as well. Not surprisingly, my older brother realize he had one too. However, i was able to stop in University. I worked my ass off and got into medical school internationally which was more than i could afford. I could not get a bank loan because they required a cosigner and my parents had no assets and a horribly credit from a lifetime of gambling. However, by the grace of God, i found a funder willing to pay my tuition yearly. It was the greatest moment of my life. Combined with student loans, this was enough.
The present: 1.5 years into medical school, and 2 months from finishing my 2nd year this June, i received news that due to the oil and gas crashing economy in Alberta, my funder could no longer assist me.
I still needed $30,000 CDN to finish 2nd year, and probably $120,000 to finish the remaining two years. International medical school is more expensive, i only went b/c i was promised support.
Stuck with $30,000 CDN debt to finish 2nd year, and only $10,000 CDN in my account…you guessed it…i went to online gambling.
Within 1 day, i lost everything. Now i know this is not alot to some of you, but this was the money that was suppose to get me through second year as i tried to find the rest of the remaining money. Now i have 2.5 months left of school, with not a cent on me. I am so depressed. I hate myself so much. Ive been in my room for 3 days straight, and skipped my hospital rotations. I wish i could turn back time and have that $10,000 CDN and never clicked that gambling site betway. Im breaking down. There’s no hope. None of my family and friends have money.
All i ever needed was someone to trust me and cosign me a bank loan, but my parents had no assets or money or credit rating and the bank didn’t trust them. I hate how i might not become a doctor because of money. Since i was 8 years old i wanted to pick up a stethoscope and save lives. My dream is fading away, my life ..in shambles.

[charles]

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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.

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!

[charles]

Hello Thefallenone and welcome to the forum. Well done on looking for help.

Unfortunately no one can change the past, what has happened has happened. Regarding the fees talk to the Medical School and see what options there are.
Yur dreams don’t have to end but you might have to put them on hold while you address your addiction and look to earning money and a credit rating of your own.

As you do that it is important to address your gambling addiction, read the other stories here, look at the other support you have available. You will have money again and it is important that you have things in place to prevent you chasing your losses.

You will see the success stories here, what are they doing that you can apply to your own situation?

Keep posting.

[Mon83uk]

To your school there may be more options than u think…

[Thefallenone]

I actually already talked to them :(. My tuition was actually due February 1st. They said they would extend it till June (max) with interest.

[Thefallenone]

Hey,

I admit i do have a gambling problem. In medical school we learn the choice to start gambling is all on your own. How addicted you get after you start is the genetic factor (and i have a family history)
I know i have a problem but i also know i have the ability to stop. I made a mistake and took a gamble to try to pay my medical school tuition off and it backfired. I felt cornered because i didnt have a choice :(. Lesson learned.

[lizbeth4]

Hi Thefallenone, I understand that right now your focus is on Medical School. You may have to put it on hold as Charles suggested if you can’t find further funding. I think the bigger picture is your gambling addiction. I know as a CG that times where I was bailed out after gambling that I didn’t learn my lesson. I know this may sound harsh but until you deal with your gambling more extensively, you will gamble again and again. Your dreams don’t have to fade! I wish you well.

[nomore 56]

I am not a cg but have been on the roller coaster ride with my hb for many, many years. Gambling addiction has many faces and “causes”. There is certainly a genetic factor involved and also a cultural one because gambling is more accepted in some cultures than in others. I read in your post that you live in Canada and wanted to suggest that you do a little research re. available help for cgs in your country. If you google “Problem gambling councils Canada” you will see that quite a few websites pop up. I live in the US and we have these councils in almost every state. They are a great resource for information about any kind of help you might be looking for. Just an idea because it is so very difficult to sort everything out when you first start on the road to recovery. Once the finances and everything else start to fall apart, it becomes quite overwhelming and scary. Maybe give it a try and look for help wherever you can get it. I wish you luck.

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