Time to admit I have a Problem!.....

liuhut

Me and other half started gambling on the Poker sites. When we put money on we use his card but I have the passwords that way we both know what we are spending and if it was getting too much we have two of us that can recognide it. We have only put £40 on but it just feeling safer that both of us know.

Catseyez

beer2006 wrote:

Edit
btw I haven't ever even opened the Gambling Introductory Offer Loopholes board, not ever going to look at it.

Good on ya! Personally, I disagree with the above board. Although it is about finding loopholes and cheating the system, it's potentially dangerous to those with addictive personalities who may be tempted to gamble. I stay away from it because I know it would encourage me too much.

I'd like to see the board removed altogether! I'm sure some people will disagree with me but surely it's detrimental to those who've got into debt through gambling?

beer2006

Catseyez

I agree and I disagree, I've got problems with alcohol, yet I don't think people shouldn't drink around me, or talk about drink.

The board is great for people who can deal with it, the rest of us only have ourselves to blame, we're are own bosses, no one can tell us what to do, we are to blame if it goes wrong.

If its not here it will be from somewhere else, there's always an excuse.


To agree, its temptation for people to make a start gambling, maybe who wouldn't have started otherwise.


Kaz250, you're never on your own, there's always someone else out there with the same problems, probably that bloke you pass on the way to work, who looks like his life is made.
With MSE you never have to feel alone :grouphug:
There will always be someone who can help or talk about it.

Catseyez

beer2006 wrote:

Catseyez

I agree and I disagree, I've got problems with alcohol, yet I don't think people shouldn't drink around me, or talk about drink.

The board is great for people who can deal with it, the rest of us only have ourselves to blame, we're are own bosses, no one can tell us what to do, we are to blame if it goes wrong.

If its not here it will be from somewhere else, there's always an excuse.

I hear what you're saying but...when you make the decision to go into a pub, restaurant, party, you know there will be alcohol around before you step inside. A lot of people come to this site looking for help with getting out of a mountain of debt and a lot of those are in that situation through gambling. So to (unexpectedly) come across a board that is ultimately ecouraging 'productive gambling' (as I call it) would be very difficult for a gambling addict to resist. Especially someone who is only just realising they have an addiction.

Please don't get me wrong, I think this website is brilliant and helps thousands. I am always recommending it to others. However, I think it's irresponsible to have that particular board in this environment.

GreyPilgrim

Lucky enough never to have been bitten by the gambling bug (well £2 a week on lottery and £1 a year on a grand national sweepstake). I've just never understood the attraction at all - I'm puzzled by the guy at the fruit machine in the pub who will throw quid after quid into the fruit machine.

But I sympathise with the addiction. All the times I've quit smoking for months, then got drunk and had a quick one, and found myself back on 20 a day within a few weeks.

It's an addiction mate, and you can beat it. Join GA. You've faced up to the problem which is the hardest bit. I know you can get on top of things and sort it out.

katglasgow

My husband gambled from the age of 16 to 27.
It has caused him a lot of problems and stress over the years and we have only just managed to contain the debts, he gambled about 20K in the last year year he was gambling - he had to keep taking out these outrageous loans (23% APR etc...) to try and win it back before I found out. He kept losing more and more and then eventually, after a very stressful time, it all came out and we turned a corner.
I didn't leave him (like he has feared I would), but I did support him, if you have someone you can confide in for support I would urge you to do so.
He also found Gam Care very helpful (http://www.gamcare.org.uk/). They have a very good website and also a helpline for 24 hour support for both gamblers and their families. They were able to find a counsellor for my dh whom he saw every week free of charge - he found this really really helpful, I dont think he would have gone to GA, hes not a group person.
Its now 16 months since he has gambled, he says he feels as though he is a different person. We've got the debt down to a managable 5K on an Egg flexible loan.
You can do honestly. The hardest part for my husband was admitting he had a problem..
Goodluck to you both. x
PS. I would also really like to see the gambling loopholes board stopped too.

plymouth_janner_boy

Hello all, I faced another whole day at work with constant cravings.....but this time it was about this site!!! i haven't got internet access at work!. didin't take wallet to work so no problems.

Just about to work out the snowball jobby and see how many years it will take to become debt free.

scottishspendaholic

plymouth_janner_boy wrote:

Hello all, I faced another whole day at work with constant cravings.....but this time it was about this site!!! i haven't got internet access at work!. didin't take wallet to work so no problems.

Just about to work out the snowball jobby and see how many years it will take to become debt free.

Hey,

I just wanted to add my support - you are doing really well. I don't know chuff all about gambling and gambling addiction but I think you are doing great - and for the good of your family - that's got to be the world's best motivator.

MSE is a fantastic place to be addicted too - loads of lovely people and great advice. Check out the eBay board, the old style board and, of course, the DFW board!

Good luck and please keep us in touch with how you are getting on - you could use this thread as some kind of daily diary like other's on this board?

scottishspendaholic x

LookingAhead

plymouth_janner_boy wrote:

Hello all, I faced another whole day at work with constant cravings.....but this time it was about this site!!! i haven't got internet access at work!. didin't take wallet to work so no problems.

Just about to work out the snowball jobby and see how many years it will take to become debt free.

Hey plymouth! Just wanted to say that I can completely relate to your addiction....to this site!! It really does get a hold on you but thank GOD it's for something useful! How often does that happen I ask you? :beer:

Did you close your eyes and reset all your passwords as was advised? I thought that was the most fantastic idea. :T

Just think plymouth....that could be the last time you wake up with that sick feeling. How great is that? You are right, you've turned a corner and there really *is* light at the end of the tunnel.

I really loved that story about the two types of cars in the casino car park. It's so true. I can't get the picture of someone weeping in the corner (as told by lynzpower) out of my head either. That's a really sad image...but it must happen every night surely.

Mental images work for me....I started tarting my credit cards to 0% way before I found this site just because I had the mental image of some high rolling financial institution fat cat stuffing wadges of tenners (my APR interest!) down a pole dancers knickers!! :eek: :rotfl:
Once my credit cards are cleared that's IT, never again cos of that image.

I hope you find something that works for you.

Best of British to you.
L.A. x

cantcope

Hi Plymouth,

Good luck with quitting the gambling. I did it myself earlier this year and i do still miss it sometimes. However, i know that if i gamble even just a tenner and lose i wont be able to pay my bills/debts.

If you ever need a fellow quitter to talk to please pm me. It's hard but it will be worth it for you and your daughters future.

Thinking of you xxxxxxxx