Welcome. Everything said during this chat will be treated in the strictest confidence.<div style='font-size:16px';><strong>Craig K.</strong> :  Hi Donna, my name is Craig and I’m a compulsive gambler in recovery. How can I help?<br></div><div style='font-size:16px';><strong>Craig K.</strong> :  Hi Donna - are you there? Would love to have a chat and see if I can support you today<br></div><div style='font-size:16px';><strong>Donna</strong> :  of months I’ve started playing an online fruit machine game , I am addicted to it , I have won and lost on it, I don’t know how to stop and spending money we don’t have I’m so ashamed <br></div><div style='font-size:16px';><strong>Donna</strong> :  Past couple of months I meant<br></div><div style='font-size:16px';><strong>Craig K.</strong> :  Thanks for sharing that with me Donna. I understand that you feel ashamed as I often felt the same when gambling. How long have you been gambling for? Has it just been these past couple of months?<br></div><div style='font-size:16px';><strong>Donna</strong> :  About 3 months on this fruit machine game , we do a football coupon once a week my husband and I but that’s £5 this fruit machine game has got me addicted <br></div><div style='font-size:16px';><strong>Donna</strong> :  I had to confess to my husband last month as we were short of money on bills because I spent it<br></div><div style='font-size:16px';><strong>Craig K.</strong> :  There’s many forms of gambling Donna and as compulsive gamblers we see many people who are hooked by different types of gambling. I’m glad you’ve told your husband, that’s a positive start in dealing with the problem. Have you ever been to GA before Donna?<br></div><div style='font-size:16px';><strong>Donna</strong> :  He was fuming , then last week I played it and won £800 and told him , he wasn’t happy I’d played it again but I’ve already spent a couple of hundred already <br></div><div style='font-size:16px';><strong>Donna</strong> :  We will be ok this month because I’ve bed.<br></div><div style='font-size:16px';><strong>Donna</strong> :  Sorry we will be ok this month as I’ve used the winnings but can’t tell him <br></div><div style='font-size:16px';><strong>Craig K.</strong> :  The thing is Donna, when you’re gambling compulsively you never truly win. You’ll have wins here and there but ultimately you’ll spend all those winnings again on gambling because that’s what we do. I’ve been through the same cycle numerous times. <br></div><div style='font-size:16px';><strong>Donna</strong> :  How did you stop Craig ?<br></div><div style='font-size:16px';><strong>Craig K.</strong> :  I came to GA, Donna. I started attending GA about 5 and a half years ago now and before I joined I too was gambling heavily and since joining, I’ve never placed a bet.<br></div><div style='font-size:16px';><strong>Craig K.</strong> :  GA is a fantastic fellowship, full of other compulsive gamblers who are now in recovery and gambling free and we all help each other.<br></div><div style='font-size:16px';><strong>Donna</strong> :  That’s amazing well done , I’m a carer for my autistic son and don’t go out anywhere so I was hoping for online help ?<br></div><div style='font-size:16px';><strong>Donna</strong> :  Is that possible?<br></div><div style='font-size:16px';><strong>Craig K.</strong> :  Unfortunately we don’t have an online facility for help Donna. It’s not that I don’t want to help you get help, it’s just that the way the fellowship operates is with face to face meetings. There’s meetings on 7 days a a week in Scotland. Is there no days at all where you could attend a meeting Donna and get cover for your son too? I know you mentioned your husband, could he help look after your son to help you get to a meeting?<br></div><div style='font-size:16px';><strong>Craig K.</strong> :  There is also meetings all over Scotland so there’s likely to be one close to you. Where do you stay?<br></div><div style='font-size:16px';><strong>Donna</strong> :  Paisley <br></div><div style='font-size:16px';><strong>Craig K.</strong> :  I know we have this Live Chat facility that we’re speaking on now but this is to help new members come in the door and to help them to a meeting. <br></div><div style='font-size:16px';><strong>Donna</strong> :  Awww I see<br></div><div style='font-size:16px';><strong>Craig K.</strong> :  There is a meeting in Paisley on a Wednesday night <br></div><div style='font-size:16px';><strong>Craig K.</strong> :  Between 7:15-9pm <br></div><div style='font-size:16px';><strong>Craig K.</strong> :  I could arrange for a member from that meeting to give you a call and discuss attending that meeting if that is doable for you Donna?<br></div><div style='font-size:16px';><strong>Donna</strong> :  Thanks Craig but nights aren’t good my son is so routine , I appreciate your chat Craig thankyou <br></div><div class='msgln'><span class='left-info'>User <b class='user-name-left'>Donna</b> has left the chat session.</span><br></div><br>== This Chat Has Been Closed ==<br>Press "Exit Chat" to return to homepage.