FREE from 20 years of being a gambling slave!

I was an obsessive compulsive gambler for 20 years. In July 2016 I was so deep in debt, over £45,000 in debt, I had to come clean to my family and sent a last ditch “cry for help” of the highest order. I had no options left, I was depressed, stressed and out of control, it needed to end!

I know exactly what you are going through and am here to help and reassure that things will get better, you can be free from this mental torture 100%, it is an unnecessary part of your life.

If you only do 1 thing after reading this and feel like you are in the same position I was, it is to speak to your doctor, it will save your life. If you are serious in stopping gambling, you need to seek medical help, it may sound difficult and the last thing on your mind but believe me it will help, it will be 100% confidential.

I am 33 now, bankrupt, gamble free and happier than ever, I am starting to rebuild the 2/3's of my life I missed, living in a vicious cycle of gambling highs and lows!

If you feel down and can not motivate yourself, you are more than likely depressed, clinically depressed, it is due to the way gambling affects your brain. I was prescribed Prozac (Fluoxetine) an anti-depressant, I never wanted to believe I was depressed or was just in denial. Anyway my very first piece of advice is SPEAK TO YOUR DOCTOR! I CANNOT STRESS THIS ENOUGH. Without you changing the way your brain is wired you will completely hamper your chances of getting through this addiction.

*Mod edit*

I am obviously new here and don't know if the links are allowed, so I apologise if they break any rules, but people need to understand exactly what they are dealing with regarding this horrendous addiction and way of life.

Much love and peace, there is hope for every single one of you!

Welcome to the forum Ungambled,

I am glad to hear that you have been gamble free since July 2016 after 20 years of this horrendous cycle. It takes a toll on your life and being free from it seems like you are living your life for the very first time. Medication is a topic that hasn't been discussed too often on this forum. I too have also been prescribed something (an anti-depressant) that is suppose to work very well with my mindfulness. I have yet to go get the prescription because it really is not that high on my priority list since I am doing well these days.

Its great that you on the path of recovery, but just be careful about being too overconfident. This illness is with us forever even though we think we have beaten it. I have relapsed after being over 3 years GF and seen others relapse over 16 years GF. It can always come back but always be aware of it. I think being complacent is one of the biggest reasons for relapse so always keep working at it! I wish you the best and another GF day/week/month/year!

Welcome Ungambled ,

I would like to add this : We cannot diagnose here or advocate specific treatments / medications or conditions as any kind of cure or cause for gambling addiction . We can only speak about our own experiences , in terms of what worked for us . As a peer support forum , we're here to support and encourage our members as they pursue their own course of action to stop gambling , whatever that chosen action may be .

Depression certainly plays a role in addiction , but only our healthcare professionals may define that role and prescribe a course of treatment for it . Disclaimer ended .

That said , I congratulate you on freeing yourself from this horrific , destructive disease .

Great responses from both of you. I understand all of what you said, and I am just trying to relay what I feel like and how I escaped this problem. I do state very clearly seek medical and professional advise from a doctor regarding your own current mental and physical health.

I forgot to mention that I read Allen Carrs book - The easy way to stop gambling, take control of your life. I could only read this 2 weeks after the medication had began to take effect and it made so much sense that I completely stopped gambling because of these 2 seemingly simple steps.

That is really what I want to share. I understand it is meant to be hard but my experience says differently, I just wanted to give people hope of a different lesser talked about method, to explore all options.

Peace to all

No worries UG , your post is OK .

I have always believed that there isn't only one way off of a sinking ship . Be it medicine or meditation , every method has its possibilities .

I personally am skeptical about Allen Carr , but I feel it is not appropriate to argue about whether his work has merit or not . Some people have had great success using his method , some haven't .

One size does not fit all .

Hi UG you make some interesting points, I have often wondered if depression causes gambling or gambling causes depression. For me, despite having some suicidal ideation, I was not clinically depressed, I am a retired mental health nurse of 33 years, so I kind of knew what symptoms I would have been suffering from. But we are all different and I do not doubt that depression is for some an integral part of their gambling. I am glad you have found something that is helping you and long may you remain GF.