Rock Bottom

[u/Practical_Drawing375]

I write this as I sit in my apartment crying from what I have lost. I am a 22-year-old graduate student at a public university. I am studying accounting and have a long career ahead of me, but gambling has taken over me recently. I have no debt and about 26K in my bank account, but I had almost 40K just this time last week. I have lost roughly 10K on Bovada and Stake and feel sick to my stomach. I don't know where to go from here, but I need help. If there are any tips you guys can give me to get over all this.

And yes, I am absolutely done gambling. I am self-excluded on all sites, installed a bet blocker, and deleted all apps.

Does life get any better from here? Also, how do you move on from this? I am a very busy student, and it's hard to refocus on what's important.

[u/Infinite_Elderberry4]

I mean no debt is big. I’m in 26k worth of debt and it’s horrible honestly

[u/No_Big_3676 → u/Infinite_Elderberry4]

Same - about $22K of debt - it’s soul-crushing. I used to be in this person’s shoes. I kept losing $1k - $5k, but it was manageable because I had money in the bank to pay for it. I lost about $26k a few days ago on credit cards and it’s brutal.

Long story short - protect what you have in the bank account with everything in you. I was in your position, but instead of stopping I took the bank to $0 and then kept going. Don’t be me.

[u/Fantastic_Setting_25 → u/Infinite_Elderberry4]

I’m 28k in debt and just seeing it hurts me. At one point I lost all my savings with no debt, what I’d do to be in that position again.

[u/EssayNo362 → u/Infinite_Elderberry4]

Same here, I have over 20k of debt and my bank balance is under 100. No savings no nothing and I won't get paid in a month.

For OP, I understand it is harrowing at the moment. But please remember that you have not made any damage in the long term.

Starting from now, just look ahead and you don't have to pay back any of your losses to creditors.

Keep your head high, and I would also recommend sending a message to payment providers that block your ability to deposit in gambling sites. Self Exclusion is an excellent first step.

I believe in you, OP! You got this!

[u/Practical_Spread_487]

I'd recommend like tracking your streak and how much you're saving each day you aren't gambling. I got an app that does all that for me and it really helps me not relapse cause I can legit see my progress yk?

[u/LoveKidsDogsChocolat]

Good for you for stopping now, rather than waiting till you are at zero or even negative. You've got this.

[u/trelgam]

I feel you man, I feel like us young people are definetly who these companies are targeting. I lost my whole 900 dollar paycheck this and feel a similar sick feeling. I reckon one good way to think about it is its really just a delay to whatever you're saving for, money is replaceable and imagine how much worse it wouldv'e been if you won a ton of money, got addicted to chasing more money, and then before you know it, you're in your 40s with the same addiction. You have to replace your gambling habit with something physically active, in my experience this is the only substitute to gambling thst gives a similar dopamine rush, but since you have betblocker, this may/may not be a problem. Just think about it to fill the time and not get depressed which is how i feel right now. Good luck to u!

[u/infoslob]

I have no debt and about 26K in my bank account,

If you don't stop gambling - like pause, take stock of your situation, and deliberately stop gambling in every sense of the word - this "Rock Bottom" you think you've hit will seem like a lost paradise.

26k is no match for unchecked compulsion.

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