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3rd February 2019 at 11:15 am #45961
Hello all,
This is my first post here but I’m always lurking in the forum and reading everyone else’s posts! I’m a 27 year old female and I have come to the realisation that I am a gambling addict.
Gambling has always been a part of my life. I remember being a kid and watching my mum play online slots and just being fascinated. When I turned 18 I gambled here and there, £10 every couple of weeks just for fun. A couple of years ago for some reason my gambling just took a turn for the worse, I started depositing £50 – £100 a day, always losing it of course. One time I got my balance to £800 from a £10 deposit and lost the lot! I’m sitting here now, realising that in the last week I’ve deposited over £1000 and lost. I’m in no debt, apart from a £500 credit card from before gambling, but I have no money to my name, I’m scared to even check my bank because I know it’s going to be a minus. No one has any idea this is going on, even my partner.
I feel I need to get this out of my system somewhere because I just have this sinking feeling in my stomach thinking about how much money I could have saved by now, and I’m scared that there is no way out from here. Will I ever be able to save, will I ever have any money to my name?
Sorry for the rant ?
3rd February 2019 at 11:24 am #45991Zoe, if you feel you have no control, then register with Gamstop, and set it to 5 years.
Gambling is crazy addictive, Your actually not in a bad position right now.. but you could be a few years down the line, it has literally ruined people’s lives. imagine being 60,000 in debt, and being overdrawn.. Register with gamstop, and move on with your life.
Give yourself a goal.. ”I’m going to save £3000 and go to Thailand”/…. whatever it might be that you fancy doing.
3rd February 2019 at 11:31 am #4599210 pound deposit to 800 pound . And no withdrawal . Is a big red flag .
3rd February 2019 at 11:39 am #45994Gamstop 100% sign up straight away and you’ll feel like a massive weight has been lifted from your shoulders instantly
3rd February 2019 at 11:40 am #45995What people don’t realise is what you’ve said takes so much courage. I have total respect for you for saying that. Your already half way there without knowing it just by admitting you have a problem. Your only 27 and with next to no debt everything is in your favour. My advice as english guy rightfully said use the gamstop facility. Find a way that makes it impossible to gamble. If your at home make sure even if you wanted to gamble you can’t. You say about the money you have spent and could of saved. No consolation but at 41 I think I’ve lost at least half a million in my life. Please don’t do what I did between 27 and 41. I’m currently on gamstop and have been for 3 months. I won’t lie it’s not easy but I feel million times better. Hope this post helps and good luck.
3rd February 2019 at 12:29 pm #46007Zoe, if you feel you have no control, then register with Gamstop, and set it to 5 years.
Gambling is crazy addictive, Your actually not in a bad position right now.. but you could be a few years down the line, it has literally ruined people’s lives. imagine being 60,000 in debt, and being overdrawn.. Register with gamstop, and move on with your life.
Give yourself a goal.. ”I’m going to save £3000 and go to Thailand”/…. whatever it might be that you fancy doing.
I will definitely look into this. Over the last couple of years I’ve excluded myself from many casinos, but I always find a new one to register with! I know deep down I’m not in the worst position, but I can’t shake that feeling of what I could of had by now, I have no savings towards my future and that’s the worst feeling. Thank you for your advice
3rd February 2019 at 12:30 pm #4600810 pound deposit to 800 pound . And no withdrawal . Is a big red flag .
Oh I agree a million percent. All I remember thinking after I lost the lot was, I’d just booked a holiday to Portugal for me and my partner, £800 would of paid that off. It was definitely a low point. I guess I’m just addicted to the thought of winning more and more
3rd February 2019 at 12:32 pm #46011What people don’t realise is what you’ve said takes so much courage. I have total respect for you for saying that. Your already half way there without knowing it just by admitting you have a problem. Your only 27 and with next to no debt everything is in your favour. My advice as english guy rightfully said use the gamstop facility. Find a way that makes it impossible to gamble. If your at home make sure even if you wanted to gamble you can’t. You say about the money you have spent and could of saved. No consolation but at 41 I think I’ve lost at least half a million in my life. Please don’t do what I did between 27 and 41. I’m currently on gamstop and have been for 3 months. I won’t lie it’s not easy but I feel million times better. Hope this post helps and good luck.
Thank you so much for being kind. This is the first time I’ve ever admitted it to anyone. Literally every one in my life has no clue how bad it is for me! Gambling has taken over my life for the last couple of years, I gamble at work, at home, even on holiday. I guess it’s taken away my hobbies which makes it so difficult, my hobbie is gambling. So when I’m sitting around on my day off or evenings at home I just feel lost if I’m not spinning the slots. I have gambled pretty much every day for the last two years, even saying that sounds awful?!
3rd February 2019 at 1:02 pm #46016Honestly the best thing you can do is tell your partner, the longer you’re allowed to do this in secret the longer it will continue. If you have big problems with gambling then you’re obviously lying to cover up your tracks. I’ve been there and been in a much worse situation than you to the point where I was contemplating suicide. Dont be like me and dont let gambling consume you. Beyond his initial disappointment I’m sure your partner would want to help and not see you miserable from losing another months pay. You’ve got to break the cycle somewhere. Sign up to gamestop as others have said, it could literally be a life saver.
3rd February 2019 at 1:14 pm #46020Honestly the best thing you can do is tell your partner, the longer you’re allowed to do this in secret the longer it will continue. If you have big problems with gambling then you’re obviously lying to cover up your tracks. I’ve been there and been in a much worse situation than you to the point where I was contemplating suicide. Dont be like me and dont let gambling consume you. Beyond his initial disappointment I’m sure your partner would want to help and not see you miserable from losing another months pay. You’ve got to break the cycle somewhere. Sign up to gamestop as others have said, it could literally be a life saver.
Thank you for your advice. My only worry with telling my partner, is that it would be breaking point and she wouldn’t stick around. If I end up alone I’m more worried my gambling will get much worse? I think she would be deeply angry that I’ve lied to her, I just don’t know if she would stick around. But part of me knows I need to take that risk ?
3rd February 2019 at 1:18 pm #46023There’s always a way forward and you have made the hardest step by realising that you have a problem with gambling.
Definitely look at gamstop or gamban. You also need to have a think about whether you want to discuss what is going on with your partner- only you can decide if it’s best to tell them or not.
Going forward, Make sure that if you decide to carry on gambling, then you set strict limits and keep to them. Make a list of what outgoings you have every month so you can see how much expendable income you have to do what you want with
Good luck with it all and fair play for asking for help
3rd February 2019 at 1:20 pm #46025Honestly the best thing you can do is tell your partner, the longer you’re allowed to do this in secret the longer it will continue. If you have big problems with gambling then you’re obviously lying to cover up your tracks. I’ve been there and been in a much worse situation than you to the point where I was contemplating suicide. Dont be like me and dont let gambling consume you. Beyond his initial disappointment I’m sure your partner would want to help and not see you miserable from losing another months pay. You’ve got to break the cycle somewhere. Sign up to gamestop as others have said, it could literally be a life saver.
Thank you for your advice. My only worry with telling my partner, is that it would be breaking point and she wouldn’t stick around. If I end up alone I’m more worried my gambling will get much worse? I think she would be deeply angry that I’ve lied to her, I just don’t know if she would stick around. But part of me knows I need to take that risk
I dont think you would end up alone, youd be surprised how supportive people are begond the initial anger. As long as you’re honest and say you need help then that’s surely better than years of lying that will probably come which will be even worse? I’ve done it myself, now I have taken control of my life through help. It’s difficult but sometimes you need to make a drastic change and take the rap for all you’ve done. Good luck anyway!
3rd February 2019 at 1:56 pm #46031Theres bot much i can say as your question has already been answered by our 2 great advisers who have been through what your going through and are here to talk about it as they know best in my oppinion so good luck and hope gamstop helps you loads ?
3rd February 2019 at 3:28 pm #46033<p>McSplooger wrote:</p>
<p>Honestly the best thing you can do is tell your partner, the longer you’re allowed to do this in secret the longer it will continue. If you have big problems with gambling then you’re obviously lying to cover up your tracks. I’ve been there and been in a much worse situation than you to the point where I was contemplating suicide. Dont be like me and dont let gambling consume you. Beyond his initial disappointment I’m sure your partner would want to help and not see you miserable from losing another months pay. You’ve got to break the cycle somewhere. Sign up to gamestop as others have said, it could literally be a life saver.</p><p>Thank you for your advice. My only worry with telling my partner, is that it would be breaking point and she wouldn’t stick around. If I end up alone I’m more worried my gambling will get much worse? I think she would be deeply angry that I’ve lied to her, I just don’t know if she would stick around. But part of me knows I need to take that risk ?</p>
Hi, I’ve just posted a new topic in the forum called always found a way… In it I state my story and how much my partner really got me through, from my personal experience I wouldn’t be where I am now if I didn’t reach out to my partner and tell her everything, hopefully it will be as beneficial to you
3rd February 2019 at 5:40 pm #46075Firstly,massive kudos for coming on here and admitting you have a problem. That’s the hardest part as a gamblers brain keeps telling its owner that there is always a way back-you are just that one big hit away from being sorted…until eventually,there’s nothing left. I got myself into £69,000 worth of debt in the early 2000’s on loans and cards. My wife at the time didnt have a clue. It cost me my marriage,my home and basically everything I had worked for….Im still paying the debt back at £300 a month,12 years later.
I ended up going to a local GA meeting-firstly in Chester,then in Wrexham and the help I got there was invaluable. I made good friends and stayed gambling free for over 3 years. I will admit I have gambled a bit since but for some reason(I attribute it to GA) I now know how my brain works and know when to stop.
You are obviously terrified at the trust betrayal with your partner,and thats natural. I would suggest popping in to your nearest GA meeting and introducing yourself and you will get the best advice ever from people who have walked in your shoes and know the ins and outs of everything you are going through. I cant recommend them highly enough.
Best of luck with whatever you choose
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