[cobysky]

So I am 23 years old live with my parents and they have recently found out about my gambling due to me coming clean as I couldn’t afford to pay my pay day loans as my wages would no longer cover the minimum amounts. So in February my parents took out a £2700 loan and cleared all my payday loans and the credit card I had, meaning when I get my wages which is about £800 a month I would pay them £160, pay my £50 phone bill, £100 to a catalogue and I would still have money left over. But after this was all sorted I was back in a circle I gambled all my wages didn’t even pay my phone bill and took out another 2 payday loans. I managed to keep it quite until I was pressed about how much Money I had because I was borrowing money to buy cigarettes, and I just had to come clean, my dad nearly threw me out the house, he just couldn’t believe that I had done it again, now I have shown them the full truth of my gambling addiction, they have seen my bank accounts for the past 2 years and I am in a position to sort myself out but I am so depressed that I have done this my parents are ashamed my sister hasn’t spoken to me, I’m just worthless, I don’t know why I did it, I was just bored and lonely. But I feel so trapped now it’s only been 3 days since I revealed the full details but I can’t do anything, I have no money, my parents are in charge of my bank accounts, I haven’t been able to smoke for the past two days and when I go out to walk the dog I get asked where I am going not to go to any shops…but I have no money they know that, they have full control over my money. I haven’t gambled in over a week now and obviously I haven’t had the money to do it, but after seeing how much I have hurt everyone I don’t even think I could do it again. I’ve self excluded myself off the sites I used and I even had to prove that I did that for my parents. I just hope I won’t have the urge to gamble when I have some money, I hope to stay in control of my money, be clear of debt and do something worthwhile.

[monique]

<

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.

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!

[monique]

Well done on writing your first post here. I hope you will soon see replies from other people who will support you and share ideas with you.
I just want to pick up on one or two points briefly… you are not worthless; you are a valuable human being, who has sadly made some unhelpful choices, but you have started to face up to those and to take responsibility for making changes. I think you have a sense of how your parents and sister might be feeling – these are the normal feelings of people, who don’t want to see you in trouble, but are confused, angry, maybe frightened right now. Try not to let it get you down – you have to work through your feelings and they have to work through theirs. The more they see you actively seeking recovery, the more likely they are to be able to cope with their feelings and perhaps begin to understand how to support you.
You don’t think you would do the same things again – it’s good that you now want to turn from gambling. I would say strongly, though, that it probably won’t be useful to assume that your will-power will just carry you through… do use this support here, including the Support Groups, the Helpline, etc. You may also find there is local help, eg a GA meeting you can attend.
So I wish you well.

Monique

[Author]

Posts