A gambler's life

by Jon
(Ilford, UK)

My name is Jon and I was a compulsive gambler.

I was born into a family of gamblers. My father gambled, my mother gambled, my grandfathers, my grandmothers, uncles, aunties - they all gambled.

So it was highly likely that I would gamble too.

I can remember as far back as being 4 years old and playing fruit machines, that were highly addictive for me, yes, even at 4 years old. The lights, bells, whistles. The smell, the noise that the machines make when they pay the jackpots out - that all thrilled me, excited me, enchanted me. Looking back I knew I was hooked at that tender age. I could bore you with the ensuing misery and debacle that was my life, but this is a positive story and I'd like to focus my attention on that.

I attended Gamblers Anonymous at 18 and tried desperately to give up. Without success. I always stayed positive no matter how terrible life got.

I've always been a very positive person. I kept attending GA telling myself one day it will happen, I'll stop gambling. And my life will change. I got married at 24, had 2 children by the time I was 30 (I kept gambling, but remained positive).

We had to sell our house when I was 33 years old. I kept gambling. Finally at 37 I admitted I was powerless over gambling - my life had become unmanageable. I finally stopped through positive thinking, and my life changed. I'm 41 now and it's the happiest time of my life.

We have a new business and my wife stuck by me. I love her dearly.

Life is amazing. Everyday is a blessing. Thank you for reading my story, I hope you can find some inspiration in it and change your life. Keep thinking positive, and it will happen. God bless. Regards, Jon