Dear Gambling…

In our blog this week, we share a letter from Hanah as she says a heartfelt goodbye to gambling.

Dear Gambling,

I have been with you for a couple of years and I have told you many times that I was going to leave you, but I never did. I watched as you turned me into a liar, a thief and made me feel like I wanted to die. You have brought me nothing but shame and guilt. You have taken away my strength and have turned me into an addict with no regret for myself or my family.

You have destroyed my ability to be honest and to be Hanah. I thought that you could make my problems go away, but it was all a trick. You made them worse. I thought that you could make my dreams come true, but you destroyed them.

I want to hate you but at the same time I crave you. When I feel low or upset, you’re the one I turn to. I try my hardest to ignore your voice, but I crumble and cave in at the sound of it. I wish you would unlock these chains you hold and let free the person I was before I met you.

Today is the day I am going to take my life back again and I am going to face things that have hurt me, instead of turning to you. I know that there will be times that I am going to want you and long for you, but I believe that the strength I get from the real Hanah and the support of my family, you will no longer have a place in my life.

I have nothing more to say other than goodbye.

Goodbye forever.

Hanah.

For many people gambling is not a harmful activity, but for some it can become a serious problem. We believe it’s important for people to properly understand the risks associated with gambling, and for them to be able to access timely advice and support to prevent a problem developing or escalating.

Whether you want to learn how to gamble more safely or to stop gambling completely, GamCare has a range of treatment options to help you reach your goal and support you through the process.

If you need to talk now, our Advisers are available through the National Gambling Helpline 24 hours a day, every day. We also provide a range of self-help resources, plus information about the tools that are available to help you stop gambling.

If you want to change your relationship with gambling, we’re here for you.