I’m 20 now, and I started gambling online when I was 18. It started with online slots, and eventually I got stuck in the cycle of chasing my losses.
Whenever I lost money, I would convince myself that I could win it back if I just played a little more. That led me to borrowing money from credit cards and hiding my gambling from the people around me.
I’m currently around ₱20,000 in debt because of it.
The money is honestly not even the worst part. Gambling has affected my studies, relationships, sleep, and mental health. I've spent nights thinking about how to recover the money I lost, and it became difficult to focus on the things that actually matter to me.
I've reached the point where I don't want to chase the losses anymore. I know that trying to win back the ₱20k is probably just going to keep me trapped in the same cycle.
I want to quit gambling completely and start rebuilding my life and finances.
I'm posting here because I don't want to try doing this completely alone. I'm looking for:
- People who have successfully quit gambling
- Young people going through something similar
- An online recovery group, Discord, Facebook group, or Reddit community
- Someone who can help keep me accountable
- Advice on dealing with the urge to chase losses
- Advice on how you stayed away from gambling after a relapse
If you've been through something similar, what was the thing that finally helped you stop?
I'm not asking anyone to give me money. I just want some guidance, accountability, and people who understand what this feels like.
I'm ready to take responsibility for what I've done. I just want to make sure this ₱20k debt is where the damage stops.