[kingtim11]

Hi I’m new to this site and forum and after reading some of the posts on here I realise that I am not alone and that many others share the same horrible gambling illness that I have.
So a little bit about me.. Well first if all I am now 23 and gambling has been a big part of my life since the age of 16 when I first started going to races with my friends and this have really escalated from there. The majority of my betting is sports based as I’m a big sports fan and unfortunately everything I watch I feel the need to have a bet on it. Unfortunately the majority of my friends like a bet too but it seems they know when to walk away and I don’t. I seem to go on tilt very quickly and have gotten my self into lots of financial difficulties in the past maxing out credit cards ect.
I feel that gambling has really destroyed my life over the years. From affecting my university work to relationships I have with friends and family. I know this can’t go on and it needs to change.
Last year I decided enough was enough and decided to stop there and then. I put up a Chart on my wall and ticked it off day by day. I made it to 6 months without a single bet and stupidly at this point I thought I had learnt to control things and allowed myself to have a few social bets with friends on the weekends football believing that it would never turn into a problem again…oh how I was wrong. It escalated within weeks to betting on a daily basis with money I couldn’t afford to lose. I think I now understand that this is an illness that will never leave me and gambling will always be all or nothing with myself. It can never be harmless fun and therefore the only way I can bear this is by going t- total again and this time never kid my self that I am cured.
So this is where I find myself again back at square one with the chart back on the wall. After finding this forum last night I know that I am not alone and your stories have given me hope. I am not going to let this beat me. I will keep you updated on my progress

[icandothis]

Hi King, Just wanted to say welcome.  I am glad you found this site last night, and glad you put that chart back up on your wall.  Also, good for you for not gambling for 6 months.  Good that you understand the nature of this illness.  That you cannot gamble, even if your friends can.  That was a hard one for me.  You are young and by working recovery, you can have the life you deserve. 

[cat438]

Hi King, you will find lots of help and support on GT.  We are all compulsive gamblers and understand the feeling of not being able to stop when we gamble. We keep going until we have no money left.  It does not matter if we win as we just keep going until we lose it all again, so we never win.  Keep reading and posting here as it helps to know that you are not alone. With your daily  It sounds as if you are understanding by having your chart on the wall it is one day at a time, and that is what we all do focus on today.  Wishing you a wonderful day free of gambling. One day at a time my sweet lord…

[kingtim11]

hi guys, thanks for the support. I really do appreciate it and it really helps me if I can open up about things on here. I used to hide my addiction from everybody for years and even from myself to an extent. before I relapsed I opened up to all my friends about everything. In a way it felt like a huge weight had been lifted off my back and they are really supportive. I suppose I also felt pretty embarrassed about the whole thing but this only gave me more determination to stop. i know that at the moment it is going to be a day by day job but with the help of you guys and the people around me I know i can stop.

[kingtim11]

I managed to get through my first day without a bet which I’m really pleased about. I think today is going to be more of a challenge especially with champions league football on tonight.

[janey]

Hi Kingtim11
Thank you for posting on the Gambling Therapy forum. As you are a GB resident you are entitled to free online support through the Gamcare website at http://www.gamcare.org.uk/ .
You could also consider residential treatment which you can find out more about by following the below link:
http://www.gordonmoody.org.uk/
As Gambling Therapy are not funded to provide support to people inside Great Britain, can I suggest that you now copy and paste your post into one of the Gamcare forums where you will receive responses from others in a similar situation to you from all over Great Britain.
You can also access online or face to face group support through Gamblers Anonymous:
http://www.gamblersanonymous.org.uk/
We wish you well in your recovery.
Kind Regards
The Gambling Therapy Team
 

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