Computer gambling addiction - no more drive?

I want to get rid of a lot. Things that I would not tell my relatives or "friends".

Because of computer gambling I have always had problems in my life. It started at age 13. (Meanwhile 24) For the first time I sat in front of the computer and watched how siblings Pro Evolution Soccer gambled online. My childhood was actually satisfactory until the age of 14. I had not missed anything. Then it started slowly. I spent more and more hours in front of the computer or laptop and played like a madman. My parents used to tell me to "get some fresh air" more often. Well, I only had games in mind. There was nothing else for me. Over time, I lost friends. Friends with whom I had always done something. Be it playing soccer or playing a card game. They were the ones who called me and even knocked on the door. The addiction became so strong that at some point they felt I was not looking for any more contact. Calls and meetings became more and more rare and that was with the friendship. The school I have actually verkackt from high school. High school diploma, but a poor average. That was obviously due to the gimmick, who would not have thought it. The thing went so far that I was about to drop out of school. I think I had depression. I cried often at home, all alone in my room in the evening. Feels twice a week. Just because. Never in my life would I go to my parents or older siblings and tell them that I had depression because of computer gambling… Certainly not when siblings said to me that one day I would have problems in life because of it. "Yes, we will see then," I answered. I had also found friends at the Gymnasium. People asked me why I did not feel like doing anything with them. Excuses in answer I had plenty. But that ended sometime. During the school day, I easily spent 6-8 hours a day at school and at weekends / holidays I easily spent 14 hours, if not more, at the computer. My self-confidence went down the drain.

Below it goes on with the text…

Ok, so I'm sorry, however stupid it may sound. One possibility, of course, would be psychological treatment and withdrawal. It's going to be tough, but it's worth it.

Although I do not have as much life experience as you (Will this year 18) Nevertheless, I know how you feel. Last year I lost my apprenticeship in June and from then on it was only downhill. I had free from then on so I played at least 14 hours a day. I have digested myself from the outside world and unfortunately no one has contacted me so often. My parents have repeatedly told me how disappointed they are of me and that I will never bring anything to them. That just got me down more. My self doubts did not let me sleep during the night which is why I started to play through the nights until I could barely fall into bed and immediately fell asleep and thus had no time for self-doubt or the like.

My solution?

I've come to a point where I've realized that things can't go on like this. I knew I had to change something, but at first I did not know how. I dedicated my hobbies and started fitness. 3 times a week about 2 hours of training each. That tired me physically and I was able to go to bed earlier. I started to help myself from the outside. I talked to friends about it and set up a day structure. Getting up before 8, having a good breakfast. Take a walk or a jog, then have some lunch and write in the afternoon for training or 3 applications. In my free time, I visited friends at work and picked them up from work to not always sit at home. I've moved the gambling to the evening and set myself to play a maximum of 3 rounds or until 10pm.

I had many problems that I always pushed in front of me.

The separation from the first big love, the loss of education, the bad grades and so on.

But today I'm back on a good life.

I did an internship, I will start a new apprenticeship in August and in the meantime I'm still traveling a bit.

So believe me when I tell you that it is in your hands what the future looks like. You are the one who determines your life. Go for friends and family. She can help you and support you. When you're in college, think again about whether you really have the capacity to gamble now, or rather work on the stuff you do not yet understand. But most important is that you bring structure into the day.

That it is not easy, I know from personal experience. But I would not be here today where I'm now, if I had not gotten my but in the hall and made something of my drama.

Hope I could give you some courage and motivation.

I'm sure with the right setting you can get it under control again but you have to be aware that you are not alone and have people around you. Nobody can do it alone. Sometimes you have to admit that it does not work on your own and that you have to ask for help. That's why you're not weak, but that's what makes you strong. You have seen that it is not alone and willing to let you help others.