[JesterRace]

Hey Pie,

Came here after your reply on my thread, this is certainly a story that hits home with me too.

Congratulations on taking the step to find this forum and talk about your story, it was my first time doing so too last week, and the weight it has lifted was massive. 

I too fell into debt before the online slot gambling addiction started, I was feeling so down about being in debt and the constant years of financial insecurity, that first big win in gambling made me feel like it’s a way out of the hole.  

Those big wins are the worst, once it happens we’re forever chasing them. The machine always wins, even when we hit the jackpot, the neurological changes made inside us will make us pump it all back in at a later date chasing it again. 

You will turn it around, just like I will too – hard work and solid finanacial budgetting is the only path out of it. Stay strong, these days are behind us now, a far brighter future awaits. Once again, well done on taking this step! Look forward to hearing updates on how you’re getting on, keep posting them here!

[JesterRace]

Thanks for the replies and support. Just checking in with an update now:

On Sunday night I spoke with my best friend, I told him straight out, “Mate I have a gambling problem and need some help”, he got the full, no-holds-barred truth, how it all started, the highs the low and and everything I’ve shamefully done to date . He offered great support, didn’t judge me and said he was proud I took this step and reached out. I was able to breathe a sigh of relief not keeping this bottled up inside any longer, it was horribly isolating to not have anyone in my life know what was going on.

The following evening on Monday I came clean in a similar fashion to my housemate also, another extremely close friend, received a very similar response. He said these things are designed to trap you and take your money, don’t beat yourself up, lets work together to fix this and get you on the right path – getting that response has certainly given me light at the end of the tunnel.

Last night my aforementioned best mate came over and we planned out my finances for the year ahead, hes quite good with money himself so we designed a plan to pay off all debts to bank, door step loans, friends as well as saving up a kitty of emergency cash at the same time. I’m very excited to go the next salary month without spending everything, it’ll be the first time in years. I also don’t have any access to my bank cards or cash at the moment as a precaution.

This evening I managed to sell my motorbike, raised money to cover the immediate loss, rent and bring all my debts up to date, and survive for the next 3 weeks to pay day. That motorbike was my pride and joy, but this life lesson i’ve learned from selling it is even more invaluable if I’m honest.

Positive updates all around I guess, obviously I do feel sad and gutted that it has come to this, but also feeling positive about the future, I’m ready to put the work in and repair my life, a far brighter future awaits without gambling and with better financial stability.

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