SOS, I am addicted to gambling - what to do?

[Kivan]

Excellent article! Worth every minute of reading 

[cocopop3011]

Excellent article! Worth every minute of reading 

 

He isn't called The Guru for nothing! Glad you liked it.

[casinonews]

It is quite useful information. Because from a little fun gambling may become the real tragedy for a person. It is vital to control yourself and to be able to find the first signs of an addiction if any. 

[Bulbous]

I'd have the following advice:

 

1. Tell someone you are struggling with gambling, a support organisation or a friend 

2. Use self-exclusion, (a) self-exclude from land casinos (in UK, it's nationwide from places where you need membership card ( block from individual online casinos (it will also work for any casino in their corporate group, © find blocking software for online casinos.

3. Distract yourself: if you're tempted to gamble right now, call a friend, call a gambling helpline, or go for a walk. If you're worried about avoiding in the future, look at your social support network - join meet up groups, sport teams, individual exercise, volunteer; give yourself thinking space.

4. Keep going: if you're addicted, get through an evening; if you're recovering get through the next day, week, etc

5. It's hard work, I'm still struggling, but keep going and there's one benefit I can guarantee if you can stop: you'll get back you're sense of individual agency and control. 

 

[pinnit2015]

Thing is with the addiction is that it’s not the cash, or lack of, that is the greatest consequence is many cases. It’s what it permeates through to: lack of interest in others, lack of interest in previous interests and the destruction of relationships with others because you’re too busy doing what you want.

 

Do feel that sometimes it’s looked down upon: an alcoholic or drug addict will often obtain the heavy sighs of ‘that’s a shame, poor them’ but the gambler will elicit ‘their fault’.

 

In the UK the tide is shifting (partly maybe due to the fact that the country’s allegedly a ticking problem gambler tinderbox) with recognition as a mental illness.

[CasinoMasters]

Thanks for the info, sometimes I do notice I have been playing a bit too much myself...

[venkatreddy.rc]

Very good post. Addiction of anything is bad you go so deep that you don't even realize what is happening with you and how to come out of it. But if we decide to come out of it we can can, it is very difficult but possible just that it might take much efforts and time.

[clubtall]

It's really strong!
First step to overcome your addict it's to understand the deep of problem

How i can see - you done this step

AS you know a lot of people who closely related with gambling don't think about this stuff along hole life.

So if you know your problem - you can defeat it)
respect you and good luck!

[bigkool88]

Great! I also like to play casino.

[RamaVe]

I saw some of your articles and fell in love with you writing style. 
Anyway so... I am addicted to gambling, and I could tell that I will become one from the very beginning when I entered online casinos. For me It all started once because I really needed money, was jobless so  ended up  on slots. And I was quiet lucky, at the beginning I was  happy even with the smallest amount like £40 pounds, but later I wanted more and more until £600 couldn't satisfy me, even few days ago I won £600, asked for withdrawal and after two days I just reversed it and kept playing thinking I could win £1000 to clear my debts...until... I lost everything again.  Now I'm getting deeper and deeper into debts and have no one to blame only myself. I feel like tearing apart. 
I don't have anyone close  I could tell about this deep rabbits hole I'm falling in . I'm not looking for  psychological help because I myself did study psychology so I'm fully conscious of my stupidity and Ignorance.  I know I'm gonna vandalize slots again, because anyway It's my only hope to get out of debts which I have no other way to repay.  The question is, will I be able to stop next time  and just happily  withdrawal my winnings till the end. 
Hope no one ends up like me. 
(Sometimes I joke to myself, I should just ask some billionaire for some money, then I my addiction would be cured in a minute)
Sorry for my English. 

[pinnit2015]

3 hours ago, RamaVe said:

I saw some of your articles and fell in love with you writing style. 
Anyway so... I am addicted to gambling, and I could tell that I will become one from the very beginning when I entered online casinos. For me It all started once because I really needed money, was jobless so  ended up  on slots. And I was quiet lucky, at the beginning I was  happy even with the smallest amount like £40 pounds, but later I wanted more and more until £600 couldn't satisfy me, even few days ago I won £600, asked for withdrawal and after two days I just reversed it and kept playing thinking I could win £1000 to clear my debts...until... I Lost everything again.  Now I'm getting deeper and deeper into debts and have no one to blame only myself. I feel like tearing apart. 
I don't have anyone close  I could tell about this deep rabbits hole I'm falling in . I'm not looking for  psychological help because I myself did study psychology so I'm fully conscious of my stupidity and Ignorance.  I know I'm gonna vandalize slots again, because anyway It's my only hope to get out of debts which I have no other way to repay.  The question is, will I be able to stop next time  and just happily  withdrawal my winnings till the end. 
Hope no one ends up like me. 
(Sometimes I joke to myself, I should just ask some billionaire for some money, then I my addiction would be cured in a minute)
Sorry for my English. 

I'm no psychologist but I would say probably not.  There is a school of thought that says because gambling is a 'mind' addiction, you can train your brain basically so not as to have the same thing happen. I'm not so sure if I'm honest - compulsive gamblers don't care about how much money they're up, it's never enough because all they want to do is play it back. Whether you can overcome that and simply gamble responsibly....i'm sure there are some that have done that but i'd guess they're a small proportion.

If you're looking to sort you're debts then try the free charities like Step Change and if in the UK maybe look at Gamstop.

If your debts are only 1k then you've not dug yourself too deep, which is a positive. 

 

[RamaVe]

1 hour ago, pinnit2015 said:

I'm no psychologist but I would say probably not.  There is a school of thought that says because gambling is a 'mind' addiction, you can train your brain basically so not as to have the same thing happen. I'm not so sure if I'm honest - compulsive gamblers don't care about how much money they're up, it's never enough because all they want to do is Play it back. Whether you can overcome that and simply gamble responsibly....i'm sure there are some that have done that but i'd guess they're a small proportion.

If you're looking to sort you're debts then try the free charities like Step Change and if in the UK maybe look at Gamstop.

If your debts are only 1k then you've not dug yourself too deep, which is a positive. 

 

Aww thank you for you positiveness actually it cheered me up a bit   ;)

[jason89]

Well, even the fact that you realize all mentioned above, is a good sign that you would most probably be capable to put your gambling habits under control, when and if such moment occur. 

[Poison]

I attended a psychotherapist and it helps a lot and I also read a lot of psychology information. did someone do the same?

[ValDes]

15 hours ago, Poison said:

I attended a psychotherapist and it helps a lot and I also read a lot of psychology information. did someone do the same?

Thanks for sharing, appreciate your honesty!  

Would be really grateful if you could share a bit more about your battle with problem gambling though. Nothing to be as useful as first-hand experience for all those who are still struggling. 

[LiamBlack]

Thank you for this huge amount of links and information. Unfortunately, as it turned out, I needed help. Although everything is individual, I spend my money and clearly calculate how much I can lose, I never exceed the limit of planned spending, as much as I would not like. This is normal? I think I'm confused.

[ValDes]

Hey there and welcome to AskGamblers Forum. 

Sorry to hear about your problem with gambling, Sincerely hope all is under control now.  

[Poison]

On 10/4/2019 at 1:10 PM, LiamBlack said:

Thank you for this huge amount of links and information. Unfortunately, as it turned out, I needed help. Although everything is individual, I spend my money and clearly calculate how much I can lose, I never exceed the limit of planned spending, as much as I would not like. This is normal? I think I'm confused.

What help do you need? If you have your limit and you never exceed it, it's just perfect 

[Poison]

On 9/27/2019 at 12:47 PM, ValDes said:

Thanks for sharing, appreciate your honesty!  

Would be really grateful if you could share a bit more about your battle with problem gambling though. Nothing to be as useful as first-hand experience for all those who are still struggling. 

Many thanks for your support!

I had problems with an uncontrolled flow of emotions. I felt very guilty, even if I lost no more than I could afford, then I experienced aggression, which negatively affected the life of my family. Also  when I won in fits of joy I spent money on all sorts of stupid things and then regretted it. My psychologist and I decided to work with emotions and it took me 12 lessons to learn how to control it. Step by step.

[ValDes]

Hi @Poison and thanks once again for sharing with us! Takes a lot of courage to admit and share with the others how you went through the hell of gambling addiction... Hats off! 

[Poison]

Thanks a lot ValDes!

I would like to warn many players from a bitter experience and not be shy to ask for help. You have only one life and you need to live it cool! I wish everyone profit and a conscious life 

[cocopop3011]

On 10/7/2019 at 7:52 PM, Poison said:

Many thanks for your support!

I had problems with an uncontrolled flow of emotions. I felt very guilty, even if I Lost no more than I could afford, then I experienced aggression, which negatively affected the life of my family. Also  when I won in fits of joy I spent money on all sorts of stupid things and then regretted it. My psychologist and I decided to work with emotions and it took me 12 lessons to learn how to control it. Step by step.

Wow! That is pretty impressive you know and you should be pretty god damn proud of yourself. Any addiction is hard to overcome, I'm glad you have found a new happy place and can only echo what Valdes has said in saying thank you for sharing it with us. 

[Gogor]

This is useful post, thank you. I don't think I'm addicted, it's just a hobby for me

[Poison]

On 10/20/2019 at 1:52 AM, cocopop3011 said:

Wow! That is pretty impressive you know and you should be pretty god damn proud of yourself. Any addiction is hard to overcome, I'm glad you have found a new happy place and can only echo what Valdes has said in saying thank you for sharing it with us. 

Thank you for your support, it means a lot to me!

[Quro]

Great info, thanks for sharing!