[sam_93]

Good evening,

I’m Sam, and am 24. It has recently become more and more apparent that I am a compulsive gambler. I have lost my job and put my friends and family through a very difficult time and have lost a lot of money whilst doing so!

The horses were and are my main love and i’d only ever bet online. I’ve recently been accepted onto the Gordon Moody Association residential rehab program and wanted to perhaps speak with others that are in the same situation. It would be great to have a ‘friend’ to go through the process with! I’d also be interested to hear peoples thoughts on the GMA program and how it worked for them.

I will be in various chats and hope to also help support other people as they go through the process. I am determined to get through this and owe it to myself, family, friends and former colleagues to do so!

I’ll be posting on this thread regularly as I believe it will help me stay honest with myself!

Thanks for reading,
Sam

[charles]

Hello Sam 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!

[Anonim]

I’ve been through the GMA, I’ve read your post and will reply to it once I’ve caught up on some sleep.

It can give you everything you need to turn your life completely around.

Well done on realising you need help, and for getting accepted into the programme.

Geordie

[Anonim]

It’s great news that you’ve been offered a place at GMA, it can give you the very best chance of leaving gambling behind, where it belongs, in the past.

I’m fifty years old, and sorry to say I’ve been resident at GMA three times. That dosn’t mean it didn’t work, I know people and I know of others that have completed the programme and have never gambled again.

My first stint at Gordon House, as it used to be called was in 1986, it was more like a hostel then. Partly run by the probation service and you were only allowed there if you were either coming out of prison for gambling related crime, or on bail for the same. There was no structure and to be honest think it didn’t help me in the slightest.

21 years later I went to the Dudley project, it was very strict but it did help me a great deal, however, to cut a long story short. I thought I had it cracked and left before I completed the programme. I was in prison for the fifth time within six months of leaving.

My third and final stay was in 2009, the programme was a lot more structured then. ( I believe it has changed a great deal since). I left in 2010 I would love to tell you it cured me and I’ve never gambled again, and skipped off happily into the sunset to live happily ever after. Unfortunately not.

What I can say is it made me see that I could change, I could learn to say no to gambling, and could live a life that was not ruled by either thinking about or actually gambling.

I promise you Sam you have a great chance of turning your life around. Listen to what they tell you. Nobody will tell you what to do, but you will realise what an absolute nonsense gambling is. You will learn to think straight.

One thing that slightly concerns me is that you say you owe it to your family, friends and former colleagues. Mate this has to be 100% for you. Not because it seems to be the right thing, but because you really really want to. You don’t give too many details about the shite you’ve let gambling put you in, that’s fine. But it must have screwed your life up significantly. GMA can give you the know how, to start living an honest life. It will not cute you, it’s not a miracle cure.

If you really want it to work it will. My advice would be not to forget how desperate you were when you filled on the application. Whatever other residents are doing, if it’s something advised against do not do it.

It’s not a prison, and isn’t run as such. But there are a few rules which are there for good reason.

Please come back and post once you’ve completed the programme. I don’t know if you’re aware that there is an ex residents group on this site on Mondays @ 7pm. I’m not 100% sure if they’d let you pop in, in fact it mightn’t be on this coming Monday because of the bank holiday. But perhaps you could contact Dave the outreach worker who runs the group he’s at the Beckenham project, I’m sure he’ll advise you if you could pop in. There is always a selection of ex residents in there and you might find it better speaking in real time.

My life now is so much better to how it was in the past. I am happy, and that is a new experience to me.

All the best with it Sam.

Geordie.

[sam_93]

Hey Geordie..!

That is great thank you for sharing your experience. I’m looking forward to attending although a little apprehensive. I’ll certainly try and contact Dave regarding the group and will post my experiences of GMA throughout my stay if I am able to!

Many thanks,
Sam

P.s. Almost a month without gambling now..!

[kathryn]

Hi Sam,
While I have not been through the GM process (I’m in Australia) I just wanted to congratulate you on taking the steps you need to get well.
Also, well done on the almost month!! woohoo!!!!!!!
Take care, K xx

[sam_93]

Thanks Kathryn – it means a lot..! I head off to the GMA on Monday – much sooner than I though I would be but i’ll certainly post on here when I can!

Best wishes,
Sx

[vera]

Monday! That was quick, Sam!
You have a couple of days to pack. I wish you all the best for your therapy. Keep an open mind and lay all your cards on the table.
(Say hello to Paul ( a fellow resident) from me, if you meet up with him)
Keep us posted!

[Yazar]

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