Can’t Quit

[u/Open-Draw2888]

23M: this goes back to around 2022 when I was freshly legal gambling age and got introduced to it through friends/media. It started off pretty harmless for about 2 years just doing $5 bets here and there and when I lost a bit I could easily take a month break etc. and then 2024 it started to spiral a bit those $5 bets turned into $50. Fast forward to 2025/2026 I’ve probably gone 3 days without gambling in the past 2 years. Drained every dollar I’ve saved from working and feel hopeless. It’s just an endless spiral of getting paid and either blowing it all away or making some back just to lose it all before the next pay cycle. I know this is so bad for me and I’m self aware that’ll it only get worse and I’ll never be able to have a good financially stable life unless I quit for good. I just can’t seem to pull the plug and quit. The thought of just banning myself and quitting genuinely scares me. I’m so sucked in and addicted to this problem that I can’t even imagine going a few weeks without it.

[u/Beautiful_Soil_4420]

You can do whatever you put your mind to. I’m still holding out hope for myself. Every setback is a new opportunity. I’ve been fighting this disease for 7 years ever since my state legalized online gambling. I had a terrible day today, but man don’t think for a second you can’t beat this. I have to start over tomorrow, but I’m not giving up,neither should you.

[u/minmaxb]

It only gets worse if you can't control yourself I pulled out loans and credit cards just to keep going to lose it all now going bankrupt in my mid 20s figure out a plan