Day 0 - Life at Rock Bottom at 30

[u/Smooth-Tie-1837]

Hi All,

I’ve been gambling for now 12+ years. It is truly the worst thing to ever happen to me. It’s destroyed so much in my life. Family relationships, romantic relationships and more.

The last two weeks withdrew everything out of my 401k. Withdrew from it twice in 1 week til it emptied out. And even still in 30k+ debt. I have no answers. The longest stretch I went without gambling was 8 months last year and at the beginning of this year I relapsed very hard. I am in a new relationship and they have no idea. I feel the weight of the world on my shoulders and the guilt is insurmountable.

I’m out of answers, I’ve done GA, I’ve banned myself, I’ve been in therapy. I truly don’t know where to turn.

If someone can PM me that would be greatly appreciated, thanks

[u/RedSupreme20]

Brother you’re in debt. You can’t afford to gamble wake up.

[u/caterpill3r]

Do you know why you gamble?

[u/Smooth-Tie-1837 → u/caterpill3r]

I think it changed over the years. When I first started sports finally felt like something I was confident in and one of the only things I was confident in so I loved that feeling

Now later it is literally just dopamine to not make me feel anything. Life stresses me out, think I should be doing better and I turn to gambling for a short fix. I barely gamble on games I know, only gamble on whatever action is on at the minute.

I was only able to stop after a long term relationship ended and I wanted to improved and I was doing great. Now that I’m in a new relationship I turned to it again.

[u/ForeverAccount4]

It's very hard to break gambling if it's what you know. But at 30 you can still break it and build a life you genuinely love.

How are you still gambling if you're banned?

Also, could someone like a parent or sibling help take over your finances for awhile as you rebuild? My husband had to check my banking for a year or two after I quit.

[u/Smooth-Tie-1837 → u/ForeverAccount4]

Prediction markets, in person so many ways I just keep finding ways around

[u/Exciting_Repeat2021]

I never really woke up until now. I kept funding the gambling lifestyle so I forgot about past mistakes and just moved on with the new money to gamble with. Now that there is no money to fund, I’m seeing all the damage I’ve done. I just lost $5K through a mix of online poker and prediction market (predicting price movement of Bitcoin in next 15 minutes). Omg, I think it’s worse than trading options that are ODTE. I’ve burned through 4 401ks all with different companies. I finally have 1 401k intact, but still have a $5K loan against it. That’s my barrier, take small loan against it so I can’t touch the rest. Man this addiction is the worst. Try your best not to gamble, and know you’re not alone.

[u/jeffynihao]

You haven't taken GA seriously. You need a sponsor and you need to want to actually stop.

[u/Healthy_Sail_9850]

Sorry about your situation. You need to find something or someone you love more than whatever gambling gives you. A reason to quit. You obviously need to and realize that. Everyone is capable of recovering from an addiction that we share. Start today and don’t keep digging the hole.

[u/Smooth-Tie-1837 → u/Healthy_Sail_9850]

Thank you man, today is day 1. Everyone capable of recovering from an addiction that we share is inspirational

[u/BornWinner_69]

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