[John334]

Hi

Im really struggling now with debt due to gambling.. i am struggling to see a way out of this hole, one thing i know is that i have a very tough road ahead if i ever want to be happy again.

I was wondering how much others had lost due to gambling, not so i can make myself feel better about the ammount i have lost. More because i think it will help to have a thread i can see with the ammount of moey we have all lost to detere me and remind me that there are no winners!

I gauge the ammount i have lost, based on the current debt i have of 40k 🙁 however this isnt including the full salary i have been on for 9 years with literally nothing to show for it!

I am constantly bombarded with story’s of people winning… never hearing of the losses..

Please tell me there are people who have lost more and made a come back????????????

Thanks for listening

[jen3]

Not many gamblers admit there losses till they end up here. If everyone was winning the casinos would not be around. I have dug huge holes, dug out, dug holes , dug out what feels like most of my life. I made it for almost 6 months without gambling and life was good, but as usual I got complacent and the addiction told me it’s ok now. I have no intention of gambling but I put up every road block possible just Incase the ugly monster ever shows up again. (He always does but this time I will be ready). I stopped counting losses after 1.5 mil but I am sure it must be close to 2. We lost a lot more than money though. We lost time, health, ourselves, the list goes on and on. You can dig out of the hole and be happy again. You have to make a decision to be happy again. Ban yourself , give your money to someone you trust and go to meetings and or keep coming here. One day at a time and and with each passing day it will get better. (I seem to prove that to myself over and over) Not anymore.

[whatif]

Hi john

I estimated that I blew £1.1m since I started gambling but when I worked it out throughly it was about half of that amount….which in a sick way is quite a good result.

I too constantly hear about all of the winners people have but never a loss. Most I ever did in a single session would of been 6/7k.

Coming up to 3 months clean and feeling a lot better

Best of luck with your recovery

[lizbeth4]

I don’t think that it matters what we have lost gambling. (moneywise) No one ever wins it all back!!! Anyone who has a gambling addiction and tells you this is lying to themselves. I think we lose a lot more than money. We lose our integrity, faith and self respect. You can dig out of your debt. You can consolidate your debts, set up repayment plans with creditors, ect… First you need to ban yourself from casinos, seek support here and maybe GA meetings. One day at a time. Things will get better!

[charles]

Hi John, I know it is usually the money that brings us to our rock bottom but the amounts involved aren’t so relevant.

The “winning stories” are always the loudest, no one talks about their losses. This is true even for non addicts. I was in a card school once. I know I was winning at the time, know my friend was winning too. Everyone else was claiming to be even!! Go figure.

I can tell you what you want to hear though, I think anyway.

If you mean have I heard of peole who have lost more and managed to stop and rebuild their lives then yes, many.

If however by “made a come back” you mean people that have lost and then won it back then no, not if they are compulsive gamblers. This is a progressive problem, continue to gamble and things always get gradually worse.

The good news though is that there is a lot of help available to you. Here, other online sites, Gamblers Anonymous, Gamcare here in the UK and more.
Read the other stories here. What thigns have helped others that you can apply to your own situation?

Regarding the finances, here in the UK you can get great free advice from either the Citizens Advice Bureau or Step Change. Lots of options avaialble these days from bankruptcy through to repayment plans, with a lot in between. They will talk you through those options and even write to your creditors for you.

Whatever financial solution you choose though won’t make much difference if you carry on gambling. Keep posting and let us know what positive steps you are taking to help you do that.

[tamworth]

but self respect, guilt and trust will always be lost- they are more important.

[theone12221]

Hi John I have to echo charles’ sentiments. Monetary loss is only a small part of the overall damage caused by gambling. No amount lost is impossible to recover from unless you literally committed a crime that will have you in jail for many years.

I get the sense that you are not confident that you can recover from your financial losses. The key is patience. Stay GF for a year and review and reflect. Besides saving money use this opportunity to rebuild and develop all other aspects of your life. When you look back and go, wow, not gambling has really improved my quality of life, helped you develop X amount of skills/knowledge…then you can truly realize that you are recovering. The financial aspects will naturally look after themselves.

[John334]

Thanks a lot for the replies,

I have now given control of my current account to Financial Solutions, although it is costing me yet more money for thier services.. they have taken complete control over all of my debt.

I have opened a new bank account to be paid into with no overdraft etc.

I am still struggling not to gamble but am dealing with the realisation that this plan means i have no more loan options, overdrafts or credit cards to fall back onto when i have lost everything.

What i have realised is that what is lost is lost.. and i now have to loo to the future.. not thinking about the things i could now have had i not lost it all.

Thanks again.

[lizbeth4]

Hi John, You are doing awesome! It is good that you have taken steps with your debts and money. That is a big step! I know that the hole we dig for ourselves looks big but with patience you will see results! What are you doing for your gambling urges? Besides the support and groups here, there are support groups that you can attend. Sometimes it helps to be with others in your same situation. Even reading self help books can give you insight. Anyways, keep doing what you are doing! Take care.

[Jasper13]

Hi there I just joined 10 mins ago because I gave up
For 8 months with seeing a therapist but he told me I didn’t need him anymore well I’ve lost £8k in about 2 weeks and over the years ive lost hundreds of thousands more than I can add up but even now I would take losses if I thought I wouldn’t gamble again

[maverick.]

Good question my friend and the answer is far too much…..

However the time we have lost is far much more…………

I hope this finds you well and wish you all the very best in recovery.

Maverick

[tamworth]

Time and lose money, unless you accept that’s it you then borrow, beg and steal for money. once you’ve lost that you either get help or you continue which eventually you’ll be alone, with a criminal record or dead. or all 3, that’s reality.

[tamworth]

society, tv, music it all makes you want things which causes jealousy. we are driven by money to replace money that’s why we continue to gamble. we might as well go to the atm on payday withdraw it all and throw it out the window.

if we use a loan or credit card to gamble we should be punished criminally, it should be illegal. family or friends baililng us out will never make you learn.

unless you seek help that’s the only way to be gamble free.

[tamworth]

that’s where the problem lies.

our life choices, although there is temptation we must not give in. we chose to gamble and do wrong, so we must face our consequences.

try to be positive, the reality is to live, have a car, have a haircut, go shopping and keep fit doesn’t cost that much. when your chasing you need to stop.

get help before its too late, then continue to talk and continue to get help. i don’t think you ever become cured, it becomes a routine coming gamble free. do what works for you.

[tom9191]

ive done around £150k mostly not my money either(stolen)

[danchaser]

Hello John.

You said you have nothing left after 9 years of salary.

Seems to be a trend for us compulsive gamblers.

It’s not the amount of money lost, IMO, but the significance the amount lost in respect to income. For compulsive gamblers, this number is far too high to justify it as not being a problem.

I’ve gone so far as to figure (rough estimate, of course) the amount that I’ve lost – per day – for every day that I’ve been alive, since infancy. The amount is staggering and sobering.

Best of luck in your recovery my friend. That goes for all of us. Or, maybe luck is what we were trying for in addiction and now we need determination, conviction and education? Yeah, screw luck. too risky.

Just do it.

[zed who lost way too much]

I know this is an old thread, but it’s got a lot of good advice. I personally lost over $250,000 gambling BUT gambling also cost me my home, career, family, and self-respect. I’m 40, broke, alone and scared. I’m just trying to survive each day, mornings are the worst when I wake up and have to face my reality. I’m also quitting alcohol, tobacco, and all other waste from my life. I’m trying to replace the excitement of gambling with the calmness of mindfulness. But I am scared. Addiction is terrible.

[Seanraj4731]

Zed you are going to start your new life now. Forget that losses its gone forget your age you are anew you got life.

Your main FOCUS NOW is your health. Where you at with your health. Look at that for a moment. Think about this ” Your health is your greatest wealth”

Now brother your absolute focus is to rebuild your health and it starts with your mindset. Encourage you to continue reading these journals and be inspired and are seeking your interest to become a better person. 

Stay positive man

Be encouraged 

Be thankful 

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