[ChloeS]

 Overdraft and I’ve recently took a loan of £800 .. which I have to pay a total of £1593 back.. wHi everyone, just signed up fresh to this site Purely because you people understand what I’m going through and you have experience in the same sector. Here’s my story.

im Chloe and 19. For many years I’ve suffered with **TRIGGER WARNING** self harm and depression. I’ve found it really hard to make friends and infact I have none. Nobody really gets it, the feeling of emptiness, I feel so empty it’s unreal. I had councelling but when I turned 18 it stopped as I had to sign up to adult counselling but I just couldn’t go through it all again? I got by. Relapse after relapse until one day, The grand national in 2017 i got into gambling. Never won before, was curious. I backed a 11/1 long shot winner returning me £120… I was buzzing it was such a good feeling. Then I got into the habit of losing, I lost £300-£400 over the punchestown festival of that year.

i got into roulette, lost more money there. As I lost more the bets increased trying to win back what I’d lost. I’d won £1000 and told my mum I’d treat her, then I gambled it away and said it was bonus funds. I won another £2k.. gambled it away and recently won another 2.5k and as of lastnight id won £400 and gambled it away.

not to mention I’m in a £1000 overdraft and I took st a loan of £800 (ton of apr.. I owe £1594 all together now due to the fee.) so all in all I owe £2594. I can’t donit I really can’t. I work and bring home £600 a month. I have to pay my car loan and insurance and board which is £118 + £104 + £70. The loan I took out to pay off my overdraft I gambled away, I feel disgusting, the loan of that overdraft is £132 a month. That’s nearly £450 a month gone on all of them payments and that’s not including petrol. I don’t know where to start. I don’t know whether trying to get a bigger loan to pay it all of the in one go would be best. I need help, I don’t know where to start. I’m struggling so much.

The only upside of this is in 6 months self harm free due to gambling my life savings away. Disappointed to say the least….

[Steev]

Hi Chloe and thanks for your post. It sounds like you have stopped self-harming in one way, but are now self-harming by plunging yourself into debt – debt which if you don’t deal with will put you into a more desperate situation.

The practical steps you need to take are to ban yourself from places where you can gamble. There is information on this site as to how to do that – or search for GamStop on the internet. Secondly you need to talk to people close to you about what is going on. It would be good to let someone else handle your finances for you whilst you are in your early days of stopping, because it will be hard if you are tempted and have access to money.

You said you had counselling and stopped this because you couldn’t go through it all again? The question mark was yours, as if you were unsure about it. I would suggest that you go back and try to get help – your GP maybe able to help or GamCare has a list of counsellors specialising in gambling addiction and you may be eligible for free help. Support is crucial if you are not to transfer back into self-harming once the gambling addiction is being dealt with. I’m sure you know what I mean.

You are still young and although it all seems a lot to deal with at the moment – it CAN all be dealt with as long as you are open and get help from people around you. Take care of yourself.

[Callmecrazy]

Everything will be okay.
I know at your age your debt seems ovewhelming but it’s not that bad. It will be okay. I lost 50 k to gambling. You don’t want to be me. It’s good that you’ve reached out for help. You are here in time.
Gambling will only throw you deeper into debt and misery. That’s why it is imperative that you stop. Everything else will turn out fine. Don’t worry but do stop gambling today.

[velvet]

Hello Chloe 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!

Friends & Family

[Mikebass01456]

Hi chole just no you can turn it around I’m new here to defo get or look into some g.a meetings I was in a lot of debt like you stil am but you can recover and break free from this addiction it won’t be easy but you have to break free ov it also maybe get a family member to hold your cards use the blocking software available to block you online self exclude from sites bookies etc I’m not saying this things wil work for you but the more you have in place the better your attempt at recovery will be all the best here if u ever wnna talk on forum chats

[BEEM]

There is debt advice available too as things sound pretty tight the organisation step change gives free debt advice they are well respected and can help you find a solution. Good luck with it you have your whole life in front of you. As other posters have mentioned get the support you need from councellors and doctors if there are other issues. I have found cognitive behaviour therapy very useful for depression and stopping gambling
all the best

[Muallif]

Xabarlar