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    • #53733
      Jeff 31
      Osallistuja

      I have just gotten back from the casino again, and know I need to stop going. I went with $400 I won at fantasy football. I played slots for about 3 hrs without issue, but then lost it. I then proceeded to take out $900 out of the ATM to try and win it back, but lost all of that too.

      I won $2000 on my first ever trip to Vegas in May. At that point my bank account reached $14,000 for the first time in my life. After my withdrawals today I’m now at $5900, and it’s all been lost to gambling. I have no debt, so I could be saving around $1200 a month, but instead have lost money every month.

      I’m not in a bad spot yet financially, but know I need to stop this now before I get to a point of no return.

      Im hoping that posting here, and reading everyone’s stories will help me stop before it’s too late.

    • #53734
      KiwiMac
      Osallistuja

      Hi Jeff, good job on realising that your gambling has gotten out of control. I was in a similar place to you in terms of savings, and ran it down to less than half that from gambling. That’s when I came here a couple of weeks ago. I didn’t want to lose all my savings, but I knew I would keep going back to chase the loses unless I made a change and faced up to my compulsive gambling.

      What’s working for me so far is to put barriers in place to stop me gambling. I have Gamban installed on my laptop and phone so that I can’t gamble online, and if I go anywhere near a pub with slot machines then I will only take a small amount of cash and no bank card. Hopefully you can self-exclude from the casino, that would be a good first step.

      Thinking about the money you’ve lost is hard, and try to avoid doing that. For me, thinking about it made me want to go and try and win in back. Instead I try to think about the money I still have and how I would just lose that if I tried to win back anything. I figure my latest gambling losses were an expensive lesson to learn that I can’t control myself when gambling. And that knowledge will mean I won’t lose more money in the future, which I figure is an overall win.

      Best of luck, reading other people’s stories helps.

    • #53735
      Ryan123678
      Osallistuja

      Hi.
      It’s good that you are here and it helps reading other people’s stories and getting support. I lost all of my savings about 4 weeks ago and have still been getting urges to gamble. It is important you ban yourself from casino and online if you bet that way
      Have you got any family or friends you can talk with about it aswell I know it’s hard but it helps to share with someone. If not there is always people here to talk to. Maybe limit access to your bank and let someone trusted manage your money.
      Good luck we can all do this one day at a time it will get easier

    • #53736
      Seanraj4731
      Osallistuja

      I am really thankful to read you recognize this habit you gonna kick before you destroy your financal life. Nip it in the bud as they say. Mantra you gonna recite Jeff is ”Why Do Something Over &Over Expecting A Different Result?” Jeff you got this brother. Give your self a pat on the back. Observe your mindset your thoughts patterns and rewire it with positive thoughts such as I gonna start saving that hard earn money to put to good use. Refocus reset and renew your mind brotherl

    • #53737
      charles
      Valvoja

      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!

    • #53738
      kamirr9077
      Osallistuja

      1st iteration

      Jejj-
      Please note this carefully . i was on this support page Nov 2017 and going through all the chats in seeking help .

      at that time i lost 20 K savings and ( 10 K loan amount which i took for my wedding ) – total 30 K
      i was upset and felt terrified . was able to stay away from bet for 7 months at this point life is on track and getting better .

      a fun trip to casino and 200 $ loss sucked me in to this agin and i was in this trance for another 8 months ( lost 20 K $ again )

      very imp – i was devastated again and self excluded myself from PA state and started paying monthly payments for all the loans ( 20 K 2nd iteration and 10 K bal from first iteration ) i was making payments life is on track for 5 months at this point i got some extra tax money out of the blew .

      before i know i started my 3rd iteration lost all 5 k in on e visit and then something got in to my head and applied for another 30 K loan for 36 % apr before i even took a min and think ) gave all the 30 K in just 4 visits .

      at this point i am 80 K down ( 50 K loans ) . what i did , how i did , why did i do ? i have no answers except chasing my losses . all this in the span of 3 years .

      i am writing this only to help you undershorts how my life changed in 4 days after staying clean for some time .

    • #53739
      Jeff 31
      Osallistuja

      I’m so angry with myself. I didn’t even make it a week. I won another fantasy football league, and my friend convinced me to go to the casino. It didn’t take a lot of convincing, but it wasn’t on my mind, and then when he suggested it, there was a switch that went off in me that said ABSOLUTELY, let’s go. I lost $1000 tonight, and it would have been more if I didn’t have the ATM withdrawal limit set at my bank…. I’m so angry with myself. I filled out a budget 3 days ago about how I can save money, and get back to where I was before I started losing, and i figured out it would take about 4 months. Then I could look back and say to myself that it was an expensive year, but I bounced back and can move forward. But instead I’m back behind the 8 ball… I think I’m past nipping it in the bud, and have a full blow issue.

    • #53740
      Steev
      Osallistuja

      Jeff – I think we know when we have a gambling problem – but we like to deny it time and time again. That is why I got into the ”lets see if I can bet normally” mentality when things were going well for me. It was only when I did this 3 or 4 times that I had to admit I could not.

      I had to take recovering from gambling as seriously as I took my gambling. I put a lot of time and effort (as well as a stack of money) into my gambling. The time and effort also has to go into recovery – blocking and banning myself from every place where I might gamble both online and off. Keeping busy with other (non-gambling) hobbies. Keeping my finances down to essential expenses only and getting great support for myself.
      You mentioned a friend convinced you to go to a casino. Let your friends know that you no longer gamble. It can be helpful to let them know you have a problem – then they may be able to help you, but if not – just say you don’t gamble any more, you don’t have to give a reason. Many people don’t gamble for moral or religious reasons … I think some assume I am like that.
      If you can find support locally – go for it. I tried to stop on my own and found the stress too much. I went to Gamblers’ Anonymous and then to counseling … in some countries the latter can be available through a medic – check that out. Otherwise use the groups here – for real time support or check things like SMART groups on-line. I wish you well.

    • #53741
      Jeff 31
      Osallistuja

      I haven’t been back to the casino since I lost on the 22nd, so 17 days. That’s the longest I’ve gone without going to the casino for at least a year.

      The friend that convince me to go on the 22nd has also decided that he needs to make a change, so whenever either of us has a craving to go we text the other. Usually it’s how we are having an urge to go, and the other responds something like ”F the casino”. It’s been working so far, as that is enough to jolt the memory of the pain and anguish of losing money.

      I will keep every updated as I go along, and thank you for your support.

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