How can you tell?

Right now i'm feeling really ashamed of myself and almost can't bear it anymore. The one thing I am really fearing right now is telling my girlfriend that I've managed to loose about four thousand dollars in the last 2 weeks. It really makes me sick. The thing is, I once had a stint like this, and I told my girlfriend about this. As caring and beautiful as she is, she was rightfully, extremely mad with me and hinted that if I wanted to keep our relationship, to make sure to stay away from gambling alltogether. Well, my girlfriend sure is awesome, she means the world to me and she has been through so much recently. I really don't want to break her heart! I called the gambling helpline the other day and have made an appointment for CBT (Cognitive Behaviour Therapy). At least I havent lost everything in the bank. It could be worse.

I think when you stop loving yourself (even just briefly), or if you take away your potential-danger radar for even a second, it is enough to invite massive trouble in to your life which isn't needed.

I know we won't be here forever, that's why it is so important to savour each moment. When we really define what matters to us deep down, that should be enough. Misguided actions are forgivable no matter how ruined the situation is, was, or has been.

I really want to tell my girlfriend, however for the rest of my days on this precious earth, if i lost my girlfriend over this I would never ever forgive myself and would always carry a heavy heart.

Well...it is good to write it all down anyway. Good to get it out in the open. Wish i could turn back the clock. It all started when I got a fine for using my mobile phone, and giving that i was not working i thought it would be a good idea to try and make a quick buck at the TAB. This is where the trouble all started. When it seems like its no big deal, I warn you, it really is. Run for the hills and do not make that first decision to enter that world of pain (especially if you are the sort of person who seems super calm until you get caught in a viscious spiral of trying to make up your losses).

If i told my Dad it would break his heart for certain. He doesn't need to know (at least I have made my CBT appointment - seeing a professional on the subject).

I truly believe getting professional advice counts. it doesnt matter how much you tell your friends and family, getting professional advice is a must. The mindset has to be changed at a core level, not just at the surface or several layers down.

What drives you? What do you have a true burning passion for? Find out. Are you creative? Do you like gardening? Has it been a while since you went to the gym? Well, they say it takes 21 days to form a new habit. Form a positive habit as a replacement for gambling.

Feel scared and worried. I know my girlfriend would be emotionally scarred if i told her. Despite here strength, vigor, determination, courage, and true sense of self, this , i know would really shatter her.

I think I am going to recoup the lost funds through working and then tell her at another time, when my financial standing is a great deal better. What do you think?

Maybe I should tell her now, though I really deep down don't think the timing is right - and I am not trying to cop out of being open and honest. Honesty is everything. I really just have to exchange habits immediately, take on board the advice from CBT and have routine professional advice meet-ups if need be.

If i focus on how to find a solution, that doesn't (contribute to the problem) involve making the problem worse, then this will set me free I think. Disconnect from the need to chase the losses, and use my creative skills, doing what i really enjoy doing to build up my finances.
If i do this, i wont waste so much time thinking about the problem. And this will help greatly with time management and getting what i want to get done in life done, so that I can pave the way to true satisfaction.

After writing all of this, I can see that my current lack of income and connection to the problem 9as opposed to finding real solutions) had been a driving force behind triggering my gambling stint.

It is important to define our goals in life, so that we have a steady, specific direction. This, of course, will help stop us going of track into a pokie venue, or TAB, or Casino. At the end of the day we have to ask ourselves what our goals are, and make a list of twenty WHYS (as opposed to asking oursleves HOW). The HOW will come, if we follow our WHYS. Asking yourself how you are going to replace everything you have lost, is not as benefcial as writing down a solid goal, and listing 20 reasons WHY.

Anyway, I have a lot to learn. Just giving advice, while at the brink of truly needing a lot of advice myself. Quite the paradox. Well it feels good to get this down on paper.

All the best all - focus on what you are really passionate on, and all the success you ever wished for will be yours to have.

Alright, im 19 years old and i have been gambling for a whole year now. I think no other 19 years old out there are worst than me at gambling at the moment.
I started of going to the bookies watching people play on the roulette and blackjack. The funny thing was everytime i go casino i always walked away with atleast 1k (sterling) that time my friend were so jeolous of me and i just thought im going to be rich if i win 1k everyday.
3 months later, my bank account was 50,000+ and only 19 years old. everytime i walk in a casino the staff member recognise me as a VIP and i feel so good about it.

Around July till now i have lost a total of 120,000 and in debts to the bank about 60,000. I simply cannot pay back my debts so i had to ask my parents for it ! They hear the amount of money i lost and feels what have i become!!! I started to ask myself that question too and i have gamble so much that losing 2-3k a night doesnt make any diference to me. I still can put a smile on my face and make it like nothing has happened. Is time to prepare my final exams and i havent done any revision or attended classes. I keep getting phonecall from the headteacher and my tutor about the absences. Everything was going wrong since then.

That time i knew i was going too far into the gambling and i realised i am destroying my future with it and hurtin everyone around me, this experience is far too much for me to go through and thinking back the pass i was really a ARAGONT b*stard and now i think i could go back to a normall 19 years old with a suitable social life for a 19years old.

Hi All,

I think my boyfriend has a gambling problem. He was gambling before we got together, and it always seems to be when he is with 2 particular mates of his. If he hasn't got any money he will ask to borrow it off them and then he gets in even more debt cos he doesnt win. He asked me to ban him from the bookies all together, so when i said i'll take him down there and do it he changed his mind and said that he wont gamble. Thing is i dont believe him at all, and it makes us argue like hell. Please can someone give me some advice on what to do or how to approach the subject!?

I'm 18 years old, and have been betting for the last 2 years. It's so bad that I can barely afford to put petrol in my car or go out with mates, something which I used to do with ease. I'm ashamed and if my parents knew, they would be too.

I've decided to completely stop entering the Tab, thanks for sharing your stories, they have really given me the strength to realise I have a problem. Good luck all and thanks.

I lost more than $5000 this month at Pokie and i had my last straw. I realised that any win at pokie only pro-long the session. I never step up and walk out with the win. I usually keep playing on other machine until my wallet is empty and left the place depressed. I feel so guilty that my girlfriend is only earning less than $1500 a month while i blew $1000 a week easily. I could've use that money and treat her like a princess because i love her. Now i realised that i spend more time at Pokie than with her.

I want a future with my girlfriend so i decided to face this problem and quit it completely. I sat down today and read everyone's comment. I found some useful information from people's experience.

- Addicting to gambling is more stressful than realeasing stress
- Addicting to gambling destroys your life
- Addiceting to gambling makes you a disgusting liar
- Addicting to gambling makes you a horrible partner in relationship, a horrible dad, brother, son, daughter etc
- Addicting to gambling eventually leads you to stealing, commiting crime to feed your addiction

There are so many con to gambling than pros..it is no longer stress releasing if you are addicted.

GAMBLING IS WORSE THAN HEROIN. IT KILLS YOU SLOWLY AND YOUR LOVE ONE.

Think about it. Is it worth it to gamble away your family?

I rang up the gamblers help line last nite and I was talking to some lady about my problem as I love going two the pokies and wasting a lot of money well I did the 1st step and I rang up another gamblers eastern suburns help line and told again about my problem and ill be starting my couselling on the 20th april and after getting off the phone today i felt a lot better I had to call my bf and tell him that he was happy to hear this so was my best friend im scared to tell my family so ill keep that away till im ready to tell them i got some help.

Anyhoo tonite my best friend caled me up and asked what I was doing tonite and she said lets go to the pokies i was ok and when I walked in i felt like I wasn't meant to be in a gaming room I felt like walking out I put in 25 dollors as I left 25 in my car i normally would put the whole 50 dollars in and more money but this time i said NO THATS ENOUGH so i finished up the game and walked out after I walked out I felt so much relief so maybe as im getting help its starting 2 say inside me no more pokies or gambling

See I was also thinking to get my gaming and liquor licence as I would like to work in that kind of part of hospitality but thats going to be a maybe would u think its a good idea ? or not?

i think my boyfriend has a gambling problem but im not sure. he goes every chance he gets and he spends 5 hours or more there every time. the thing is he is rather lucky...he wins quite often...but then there are times when he looses quite a bit too. i know he has a $500 credit limit thru his bank and ive seen him at the casino go to the atm 3 or 4 times pulling out around $200 every time. so before the weeks over hes negative the full $500 every week and he gets paid a good amount of money every week. i dont know what to do about it. i tried to talk to him once about it but his response was its not a gambling problem if you win more than you loose...which i disagree with 100%. what should i do?

I think my mother has a gambling problem. What’s more I assume she is also financing her friend who's been out of work for the last 7 years. I am filled with emotions of anger, disappointment and sadness. I am not sure of the extent, however the mood swings, lies, running out of cash, late nights is more evident each day. I don't know how to approach her, I don't want to scare her and I also know that you can't force anyone to heal. I feel stuck.

My son is 20 years of age, he tried to gamble once and he won, He taught he will win as always, when he won the 6000.00 up to 11000.00 and he bet a big amount of money to win more, unfortunately lost it all. Now he is couldn't concentrate his study and feeling depress. The 11000.00 is always on his mind. I don't want my son to get hook up and cannot get out in this gambling. Please give me the best advise before it is too late.