\u201cTHE harm creeps up on you \u2014 by the time you recognise it, it\u2019s already well and truly taken hold.\u201d<\/p>\n
These are the words of regional South Australian resident Rebecca Healey, a single mother who has struggled with, and recovered from gambling harm.<\/p>\n
Rebecca said her issues with gambling began by feeling a lack of personal purpose.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs a proud ASD mumma and a single parent of a special needs child, I wasn\u2019t in a position to work \u2014 so I started going to the pokies for something to do,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cPre-Covid, venues offered free food and drinks and welcomed you to stay as long as you liked. It became a social outlet \u2014 a place where I could be alone without feeling completely isolated.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt the same time, I was silently struggling with my mental health and withdrawing from family and friends. The venue felt comfortable and inviting, and I found myself going more and more often.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat started as a bit of fun quickly escalated. I was spending longer and longer there each day, spending money I didn\u2019t really have, (and) before I knew it, it was affecting me emotionally, mentally, and financially. The harm creeps up on you \u2014 by the time you recognise it, it\u2019s already well and truly taken hold.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rebecca said she never considered herself a person at risk from gambling harm.<\/p>\n
\u201cPokies are scientifically designed to keep you playing, they work on the brain in ways most people don\u2019t realise until they\u2019re already caught,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I found myself unable to stop, I quietly blamed myself. I felt stupid, ashamed, and deeply alone \u2014 like I\u2019d dug a hole I couldn\u2019t get out of.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe shame I carried was heavy, and it took a long time before I could see my experience for what it truly was: an addiction, just like any other.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rebecca said the social familiarity of regional communities made it challenging to begin seeking help.<\/p>\n
\u201cNews travels fast in small communities \u2014 everyone knows everyone,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I was experiencing gambling harm, the last thing I wanted was for my family, friends, or acquaintances to find out. I was already judging myself harshly, the thought of others doing the same felt unbearable.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat fear of stigma and judgment is one of the biggest barriers to people in regional areas reaching out for help. It\u2019s something I feel strongly about changing.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo one should have to suffer in silence because they\u2019re afraid of what their community might think.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rebecca said accessing support services helped her regain a sense of personal control.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe turning point came when I realised my addiction was no longer just hurting me \u2014 it was affecting the people I loved,<\/p>\n
\u201cThe thought of losing my closest relationships because of a problem I felt powerless over was the wake-up call I needed. I knew I couldn\u2019t keep living the way I was.<\/p>\n
\u201cI reached out to Lifeline South East, knowing they offered financial counselling and hoping they could point me in the right direction, (and) I was fortunate to connect with a counsellor who met me without judgement and supported me every step of the way. That first phone call was the hardest part \u2014 but it was also the most important step I ever took.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was nothing like I feared. There was no judgement \u2014 only genuine support. My counsellor helped me build coping strategies I simply hadn\u2019t had before, and through that process, I developed a much healthier relationship with both myself and money.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rebecca said available support mechanisms increase the effectiveness of gambling harm recovery in regional areas.<\/p>\n
\u201cRecovery is not a cure. It\u2019s an ongoing journey,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut it is absolutely possible, and the growth on the other side is real. I\u2019ve now come full circle \u2014 I work at Lifeline in Gambling Help services, and I hope to walk alongside others in their own recovery journeys the way someone once walked alongside me.<\/p>\n
\u201cPlease don\u2019t be afraid to ask for help. I know the fear of being seen or judged feels enormous \u2014 especially in a regional community \u2014 but I promise you, help is available and it comes without judgement.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou are not alone, and you don\u2019t have to keep suffering in silence. It all starts with a single conversation, so make the call, and take the step. Your life can look very different on the other side \u2014 I\u2019m living proof of that.\u201d<\/p>\n