Welcome. Everything said during this chat will be treated in the strictest confidence.<div style='font-size:16px';><strong>Mark B.</strong> :  Hi Allan. How Can I help you.<br></div><div style='font-size:16px';><strong>Allan</strong> :  I’ve got a gambling problem and I need to sort it out <br></div><div style='font-size:16px';><strong>Mark B.</strong> :  Your in the right place do you want to tell me a bit more. I'm a recovering compulsive gambler. I know how awful and soul destroying gambling can be.<br></div><div style='font-size:16px';><strong>Mark B.</strong> :  How has it been for you?<br></div><div style='font-size:16px';><strong>Allan</strong> :  Up and down but if I don’t do something about it I’m going to loos every think <br></div><div style='font-size:16px';><strong>Allan</strong> :  My wife <br></div><div style='font-size:16px';><strong>Mark B.</strong> :  Thats a scary thought, what type of gambling have you been doing?<br></div><div style='font-size:16px';><strong>Allan</strong> :  Roulette <br></div><div style='font-size:16px';><strong>Mark B.</strong> :  I dont know what that has been like for you but I know it was lethal for me. It is where I lost most of all my money. I was trying to &quot;win&quot; at life and loosing in every way. The only thing that helped me stay off gambling was going to meetings with people that understood what I was going through.<br></div><div style='font-size:16px';><strong>Mark B.</strong> :  Would you consider going to a meeting? We have them all over Scotland these days.<br></div><div style='font-size:16px';><strong>Allan</strong> :  Yes<br></div><div style='font-size:16px';><strong>Mark B.</strong> :  Where do you live?<br></div><div style='font-size:16px';><strong>Allan</strong> :  It would be hard for me but I really need to try it <br></div><div style='font-size:16px';><strong>Allan</strong> :  Shotts<br></div><div style='font-size:16px';><strong>Mark B.</strong> :  it is really hard bro but I can get someone from that meeting to contact you and meet you before the meeting.<br></div><div style='font-size:16px';><strong>Mark B.</strong> :  Just to put you at ease and so your not walking in blind<br></div><div style='font-size:16px';><strong>Mark B.</strong> :  It may well be the hardest thing you have ever done but at the same time the best to get the life you want and deserve.<br></div><div style='font-size:16px';><strong>Mark B.</strong> :  Gambling is soul destroying and it sounds likes its taking away a lot of your peace.<br></div><div style='font-size:16px';><strong>Allan</strong> :  Yes that would be great <br></div><div style='font-size:16px';><strong>Mark B.</strong> :  Let me check your closest meeting to you. two secs.<br></div><div style='font-size:16px';><strong>Allan</strong> :  Ok<br></div><div style='font-size:16px';><strong>Mark B.</strong> :  Your 11 miles from Blackburn is that right?<br></div><div style='font-size:16px';><strong>Allan</strong> :  Yes <br></div><div style='font-size:16px';><strong>Mark B.</strong> :  They have a meeting on a Monday at 7:30pm to 9:30pm at Boghall Parish Church, Elizabeth Drive, Bathgate, EH48 1J. I can contact someone at that meeting and pass on your number to contact you. Would you mind sharing your number.<br></div><div style='font-size:16px';><strong>Allan</strong> :  Yes it’s 07851224313<br></div><div style='font-size:16px';><strong>Mark B.</strong> :  They are a really good bunch of guys. I might even pop along if I am free as I sometimes go there. You are in good hands. I am just thinking about between now and then. Would you like to go to a meeting before Monday?<br></div><div style='font-size:16px';><strong>Mark B.</strong> :  I am sure there is meetings in Glasgow and Edinburgh ie tomorrow that I could look into.<br></div><div style='font-size:16px';><strong>Mark B.</strong> :  I just want to go at your pace with what works best for you.<br></div><div style='font-size:16px';><strong>Mark B.</strong> :  Are you still there Allan?<br></div><div style='font-size:16px';><strong>Allan</strong> :  Yes <br></div><div style='font-size:16px';><strong>Mark B.</strong> :  Are you ok to wait to Monday for a meeting or would you like to go to a meeting before that?<br></div><div style='font-size:16px';><strong>Allan</strong> :  I’m of work tomorrow <br></div><div style='font-size:16px';><strong>Mark B.</strong> :  I will have a look at the meetings tomorrow and see if any are near you - probably not as near as Blackburn but I could get someone from that area to contact you as well as the Blackburn area for the meeting on Monday. Two secs.<br></div><div style='font-size:16px';><strong>Allan</strong> :  Ok thanks <br></div><div style='font-size:16px';><strong>Mark B.</strong> :  Livingston or Falkirk seems the next closest to you that are on at 730pm. I can contact someone from either Falkirk or Livingston (your choice) and get them to make contact with you as well as Blackburn for next Monday. How does that sound?<br></div><div style='font-size:16px';><strong>Mark B.</strong> :  <br></div><div style='font-size:16px';><strong>Mark B.</strong> :  Falkirk. 7:30pm to 9:30pm Old Parish Church Larbert, 19 Denny Road, Larbert, FK5 3AB<br></div><div style='font-size:16px';><strong>Allan</strong> :  Livingston is best <br></div><div style='font-size:16px';><strong>Mark B.</strong> :  7:30pm to 9:30pm St Andrews Church, 126 Victoria Street, Craigshill, Livingston, EH54 5BJ<br></div><div style='font-size:16px';><strong>Mark B.</strong> :  Cool I will contact someone in Livingston to get in touch with you for tomorrow and someone in Blackburn.<br></div><div style='font-size:16px';><strong>Mark B.</strong> :  Is it mainly roulette you done Allan?<br></div><div style='font-size:16px';><strong>Allan</strong> :  Thanks mark<br></div><div style='font-size:16px';><strong>Allan</strong> :  Yes <br></div><div style='font-size:16px';><strong>Mark B.</strong> :  I am guessing you may have lost not only money but hours of sleep and time gambling.<br></div><div style='font-size:16px';><strong>Mark B.</strong> :  Not to mention the anxiety it causes.<br></div><div style='font-size:16px';><strong>Allan</strong> :  Yes <br></div><div style='font-size:16px';><strong>Mark B.</strong> :  You deserve so much better.. I was where you were just over a year ago. <br></div><div style='font-size:16px';><strong>Mark B.</strong> :  I know it feels like there is no hope but you have made a really important step.<br></div><div style='font-size:16px';><strong>Allan</strong> :  I’ve lost all my money and I’ve got family that think money come from trees <br></div><div style='font-size:16px';><strong>Mark B.</strong> :  Sometimes the first step is just admitting that you have a problem and that your life has become unmanageable..<br></div><div style='font-size:16px';><strong>Mark B.</strong> :  You mean you felt pressured to always provide money that you never had so gambled to tried to get more?<br></div><div style='font-size:16px';><strong>Mark B.</strong> :  (try and get more)<br></div><div style='font-size:16px';><strong>Allan</strong> :  Not so much before but now I got married got loans and now struggling to pay them and run the house <br></div><div style='font-size:16px';><strong>Mark B.</strong> :  Sometimes people dont realise the pressure we are under. Sounds like you turned to gambling to escape that pressure and help pay the bills, but its only left you with a much bigger pressure and worry.<br></div><div style='font-size:16px';><strong>Mark B.</strong> :  it takes guts to do what you have done tonight so I hope you can give yourself a break and your mind a rest a little.<br></div><div style='font-size:16px';><strong>Mark B.</strong> :  It is the easiest thing to blame yourself.<br></div><div style='font-size:16px';><strong>Allan</strong> :  Yes and it’s my fault because I want the best for them and myself <br></div><div style='font-size:16px';><strong>Allan</strong> :  My wife wants for nothing to see is the best <br></div><div style='font-size:16px';><strong>Mark B.</strong> :  Nothing wrong with wanting the best, I guess sometimes we just create in our head we can only have all the things we want by gambling.<br></div><div style='font-size:16px';><strong>Mark B.</strong> :  and actually its the opposite.<br></div><div style='font-size:16px';><strong>Mark B.</strong> :  does your wife know about the extent of your gambling?<br></div><div style='font-size:16px';><strong>Allan</strong> :  Yes if I didn’t gamble I would have so much more <br></div><div style='font-size:16px';><strong>Mark B.</strong> :  how old are you Allan if you dont mind me asking?<br></div><div style='font-size:16px';><strong>Mark B.</strong> :  you still there Allan?<br></div><div style='font-size:16px';><strong>Mark B.</strong> :  I will end  the chat soon unless you want to talk more? I will get someone from Livingston and Blackburn to be in touch  asap Allan.<br></div><br>== This Chat Has Been Closed ==<br>Press "Exit Chat" to return to homepage.