[linder4004]

So this is my first post but I need to get all of this off my chest. I started gambling in college, (I am now 2 years out).

It started out casually with my friends, betting on big games on TV. Over time it progressed and I was throwing $1000 on NFL playoff games and $600 on games of online roullete. 
I bet alot in college, but it didn’t take over my life like the way it has now. For the past two years I live, eat, and breath sports betting. I wake up everyday excited to check lines, and bet on tons

of games. It slowly got to the point where no matter what I am doing, I am constanly checking my phone looking at sports scores. When I go home to visit my parents I feel like I am not really

even there. My mind is always focused on what games I can bet on and how my bets are doing. I try to bet small, but after a few days I go back to my old ways. I can’t count the amount of times

I was up big, loss a tiny portion of it, and threw double to get back to where I was. It doesn’t matter how much I am up, when I lose I want to get back to where I was. I’ve had weeks where I have lost

a few thousand bucks and decided it wasn’t worth it, but a week or two later im back. About 6 months ago I lost ~7k and said I was done for good. I lasted about two weeks and then i’m back to my old ways. 

It’s like I totally forget about all the pain I feel when I lose all of my money, and just continue to repeat the process. 

So, about two months ago I lost ~10k, had to sell stocks in my savings to pay it off and once and for all decided I was done. It wasn’t worth the constant stress. I didn’t bet for a few weeks and then I started again

but was only throwing $20 a game. Within a week I was throwing more, around $100, but was never getting crazy like my old ways. I was consistently up, but when I went down it was only a few hundred and 

I was fine with that. Then, this past month was amazing for me. I couldn’t miss and I was up $1,700 of bets of no more than $200. This week, cashed out and felt great, but then I lost $200 of my $1,700 and it

all went down hill. I felt like I had to get back to $1,700 but continued to lose. Eventually I was at $800 and fully lost control. Yesterday, I tried doubling and went back down to zero, and that was the end of it. In one day I 

lost $16,000. I was up untill 6am live betting tennis (had to wake up for work at 7), doing anything to get out of the hole, even though I just continuted to watch it grow. All of this after promsing myself I would never put

myself through that agony again only two months before. 

I woke up today and I finally realized I can never place another bet. I am sick of my life revolving around sports betting. I am sick of allowing losses to ruin amazing times in my life, like weddings, vacations with 

friends, you name it. I am sick of spending time with my family, friends, and girlfirend but only being halfway there because I am stuck checking scores and looking for new games to bet on. I am sick of not being able to 

enjoy things the way I used to.  I have decided that I am going to enjoy the truely great things in my life instead of chasing a quick buzz from betting. I will no longer allow myself to cause such inflicited agony. Today is the day I go back to 

actually living my life. 

Any comments, advice, stories, anything are welcome. Jan 11

[sunnys]

HELLO YOUNG MAN. WHAT YOU ARE GOING THROUGH IS WHAT ALL GAMBLERS GO THROUGH. I AM A GAMBLER ON AND OFF FOR THE LAST 32 YEARS. I HAVE RECENTLY LOST A FORTUNE GAMBLING ONLINE. I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE A STORY WITH YOU THE FIRST TIME I WENT TO A BETTING SHOP I WAS LESS THAN 16 YEARS OLD. I ASKED A ELDERLY MAN IN THERE TO SHOW HE HOW TO DO A BET AND HE REFUSED. HE TOLD ME TO GET OUT OF THE SHOP AND NEVER COME BACK. HE TOLD ME THAT HE HAS LOST OVER 1 MILLION POUNDS. I LOOKED AT HIM AND THOUGHT THATS JUST NOT POSSIBLE FROM THE WAY HE DRESSED. THE MORAL OF THE STORY IS THAT HE DID NOT WANT ME TO GET IN THE SAME MESS AS HE WAS.
NOW 32 YEARS ON I AM PAYING THE PRICE FOR NOT LISTENING TO HIM.
IT SEEMS YOU ARE STILL A VERY YOUNG MAN WITH GREAT LIFE AHEAD OF YOU. YOUR SITUATION IS NOT AS BAD AS YOU THINK IT IS IF YOU WALK AWAY NOW.
THE BIGGEST PROBLEM WITH GAMBLING IS CHASING. WHEN I GO TO THE BETTING SHOP AT THE END OF THE DAY ALL PEOPLE WHAT TO DO IS WIN BACK WHAT THEY LOST ON THAT DAY.
SELF CONTROL IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IN GAMBLING AND SADLY AS CLEVER AND WISE AS WE THINK WE ARE WHEN IT COMES TO GAMBLING WE LOSE IT MEANING THAT ONCE WE REACH OUR TARGET WE CARRY ON AND WHEN WE LOSE WE LOSE EVERYTHING.
I REALLY HOPE YOU CAN GIVE UP NOW. ITS NOT ABOUT THE LEVEL OF STAKES, BE IT LARGE OR LITTLE EVENTUALLY YOU WILL GET TO A POINT THAT YOU ARE FORCED INTO BETTING LARGE INORDER TO RECOUP YOUR LOSSES.
PLEASE PLEASE GIVE UP NOW YOU HAVE A GREAT LIFE TO LOOK FORWARD TO.
GAMBLING EFFECTS YOUR DAY TO DAY LIFE IN A NEGATIVE WAY.

[Dunc]

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!

[kin]

I am from another side of this planet, I have gambled for more than 30 years…your story describe my struggle and I use your words to describe my story.

I started out casually with my friends…over time it progressed…but it didn’t take over my life like the way it has now… It slowly got to the point where… my mind is always focused on what games I can bet on and how my bets are doing… I try to bet small, but after a few days I go back to my old ways… I was up big, loss a tiny portion of it, and threw double to get back to where I was. It doesn’t matter how much I am up, when I lose I want to get back to where I was…

I’ve had weeks where I have lost a few thousand bucks and decided it wasn’t worth it, but a week or two later I am back…I said I was done for good…I lasted only two weeks and then I am back to my old ways…It’s like I TOTALLY FORGET ABOUT ALL THE PAIN I feel when I lose all of my money, and just continue to repeat the process…It wasn’t worth the constant stress.

I didn’t bet for a few weeks and then I started again…I was fine. I was up $X,XXX…but then I lost $XXX of my $X,XXX…I felt like I had to get back to $X,XXX but continued to lose. Eventually I…fully lost control. Yesterday, I tried doubling and went back down to zero, and that was the end of it. In one day I lost $XX,XXX.

All of this after promising myself I would never put myself through that agony again … I finally realized I can never place another bet. I am sick of my life revolving around sports betting…I am sick of allowing losses to ruin amazing times in my life…I have decided that I am going to enjoy the truely great things in my life instead of chasing a quick buzz from betting.

[jen3]

Sounds farmillar. I remember being in college and study for my exams while at the dog track. I have done it all track, sports betting, casinos (both cards and slots). I have been out of school for almost 25 years, but that is when the gambling started to get out of control… I am glad you are stoping. I hope you get the help you need. You have your whole life ahead of you. Do not blow it like I did. Over 2.5 million, all th ewadted days, never being fully present and 25 years later and still only on day 12.. I guess what I am trying to say is once we cross that line it only gets worse. Put whatever you put into gambling into your recovery. I wish you well!

[Steev]

You have realised that you can never place another bet. Well done for that and for wanting a new life gambling free. If only just not placing bets was all there was to it.

You will need to create a whole new life for yourself, one that is without competitive sports as that is a trigger for you. That doesn’t mean you can’t challenge yourself, there are no gambling ads on hiking trails or mountainsides – but at the game or watching on TV … In some sports the players are running adverts for gambling.

You will probably need to make new friends who won’t drag you to a game. You will need a lot of support to make these changes, be that through a group like GA or counseling. If you look upon your recovery as your challenge you will feel better and better about yourself the more days you stay away from a bet.

Finally don’t chase losses. Your finances may not improve immediately and may even get worse with interest and penalties even after you stop gambling. Get good advice about debts and find ways of clearing them by other (legal) means. See that as another challenge in life that you can surmount – I wish you well in your new life.

[Jezi]

I totally understand what you mean by not really being there even though you are with friends and family. Its and awful feeling. Coming to realisation is the first step, then taking actions to quit and keep it that way. I’m not there yet but determined that i can and will do it. Hang in there and keep us updated how youre doing!

[linder4004]

I was Clean for less than a week and the urge was still there. I had A great week, won back some of my losses, but now tonight I almost Doubled what I orginally lost. I’m sick. I can’t believe I put Myself in this spot after being so determined to quit. I feel Like I may never be able to. Gambling has taken over my life and I want It back. I’m hoping today was the final straw and I will Force myself to never go back, but I’ve said it so many times. I am worried I am Going to ruin my entire life. I need To stop and I need To stop right now. Going to go to a GA meeting this weekend but I’m just so broke over this. I can’t take the financial loss, and what it’s doing to my mental health. I need To just walk away.

[Steev]

If we could “just stop” gambling then no-one would have a problem. It sadly isn’t as easy as “just walking away.”

I felt that I had to put as much time and effort into my recovery as I did into my gambling – and that was a lot. I soon found that I couldn’t do it alone. I needed GA and support from individual members and friends that I had confided in, to make it work for me.

So have you put barriers in your way? Have you confided in somone who can support you? You will go to a GA meeting in the next few days and they will be able to help you more individually and give you some local information on support etc.

You will need to put the effort in – but it will be worth it. I wish you well.

[Author]

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