Welcome. Everything said during this chat will be treated in the strictest confidence.<div style='font-size:16px';><strong>Arthur M.</strong> :  Good morning, how can I help you.<br></div><div style='font-size:16px';><strong>A</strong> :  Hi, I’ve been gambling as long as I remember and it’s gotten to the stage where I’m going too far, I have the blocks on everything but I find ways around or things that my bank doesn’t recognise as gambling and then just compulsively go all out to win <br></div><div style='font-size:16px';><strong>A</strong> :  My partner doesn’t know and I feel if she finds out then it’ll end up with breaking up etc<br></div><div style='font-size:16px';><strong>Arthur M.</strong> :  Sorry to hear, that. What is your first name.<br></div><div style='font-size:16px';><strong>A</strong> :  Andrew<br></div><div style='font-size:16px';><strong>Arthur M.</strong> :  Where are you located Andrew, I can get some local to call you. I'm available to chat in the phone just now if you want.<br></div><div style='font-size:16px';><strong>A</strong> :  I’m located near ayr <br></div><div style='font-size:16px';><strong>Arthur M.</strong> :  We have a few meetings in the Ayrshire area. Are you up for attending a meeting.<br></div><div style='font-size:16px';><strong>A</strong> :  I’d rather not in all honesty <br></div><div style='font-size:16px';><strong>Arthur M.</strong> :  Do you want a call just now or do you want to give me your number and I can get a member local to you to give you a call. They will call only when it suits you.<br></div><div style='font-size:16px';><strong>Arthur M.</strong> :  I'm going to be honest with you. Something has to change, I gambled for over forty years. Eventually looked for help from GA and never liked back. I was seven years gambling free on March this year.<br></div><div style='font-size:16px';><strong>A</strong> :  I know something has to change, I’m just hesitant with meetings and phone calls and such <br></div><div style='font-size:16px';><strong>Arthur M.</strong> :  We have a sister group called GamAnon. This is for friends and family member. I can get them to speak to your wife if you want, when or if you tell her.<br></div><div style='font-size:16px';><strong>Arthur M.</strong> :  As I said, I'm happy to talk to you just now. You don't need to say much, just listen.<br></div><div style='font-size:16px';><strong>Arthur M.</strong> :  My number is 07775565723<br></div><div style='font-size:16px';><strong>A</strong> :  Yeah I can’t tell her about this <br></div><div style='font-size:16px';><strong>Arthur M.</strong> :  I know how you feel Andrew, head is racing and scared of the consequences. I've been there loads of times and did nothing about it. I just went to my safe place and gambled and made things worse. <br></div><div style='font-size:16px';><strong>A</strong> :  But how to stop?? I don’t feel like I can and that’s the issue <br></div><div style='font-size:16px';><strong>Arthur M.</strong> :  Andrew seriously think about letting your partner know. You're not going to get a magical win and everything will be ok. It will never happen, I personally had enough of what I was putting my wife and two sons through. You will have a better life, it's all about taking that first step and stopping. You are possibly going in the right direction by coming on here and admitting you have a problem.<br></div><div style='font-size:16px';><strong>A</strong> :  I can’t go through that conversation with her, that’s not something I can do <br></div><div style='font-size:16px';><strong>Arthur M.</strong> :  I thought for over forty years, I couldn't stop. You'll think your the only person that gambles the way you do. Andrew your not, that's why GA has over 80 meetings throughout Scotland. Every day of the week <br></div><div style='font-size:16px';><strong>A</strong> :  I know I need to stop it’s just i do everything I can to stop myself but find ways to do it. I know im not the only one for sure<br></div><div style='font-size:16px';><strong>Arthur M.</strong> :  Can you attend a meeting, let you meet people with the same mindset as you. They will give advise and explain how it was for them.<br></div><div style='font-size:16px';><strong>A</strong> :  Not at the moment, I’m new to the area which means my partner etc are all a bit on top of me so an unexplainable thing might be a bit suspicious really <br></div><div style='font-size:16px';><strong>Arthur M.</strong> :  Will power never works, I tried. Maybe stopped for a few weeks. The urge was too strong and went back gambling. Having the support of GA works. Don't ask me how, it just does.<br></div><div style='font-size:16px';><strong>A</strong> :  That’s why I’m trying to reach out <br></div><div style='font-size:16px';><strong>Arthur M.</strong> :  Andrew, you have my number, call me anytime and I mean anytime. As I said your taking the first step. Your life has become unmanageable, it's time to do something about it.<br></div><div style='font-size:16px';><strong>A</strong> :  This is why I’m in touch. I just don’t know how and why I keep going back to things <br></div><div style='font-size:16px';><strong>Arthur M.</strong> :  I can only let you know what I did and how it was a success.<br></div><div style='font-size:16px';><strong>A</strong> :  I can try a call but I’m not sure how much I can talk because I’m struggling to even type etc <br></div><div style='font-size:16px';><strong>Arthur M.</strong> :  You keep going back because you're addicted. It is an illness and you need help to arrest it. It will always be there, but you can stop it. I was 59 when I stopped and always wish I could have done it sooner. It doesn't matter me wishing, I have stopped now and that's what matters.<br></div><div style='font-size:16px';><strong>A</strong> :  I feel like it’s exasperated by moving to a new place and struggling mentally to get to grips with things <br></div><div style='font-size:16px';><strong>Arthur M.</strong> :  Call me just now if your available and just listen to me.<br></div><div style='font-size:16px';><strong>A</strong> :  Ok<br></div><br>== This Chat Has Been Closed ==<br>Press "Exit Chat" to return to homepage.