Young addict who blew half a million on gambling machines reveals how she contemplated suicide

A reformed gambling addict who sunk more than half a million dollars into poker machines has spoken candidly about the dark moment her habit drove her to the brink of suicide.  

Kate Seselja, 38, struggled with a pokies addiction for a full 13 years after becoming hooked off a $20 dollar bet at the age of 18.

Throughout that time she blew hundreds of thousands of dollars on the gaming machines, chasing her losses and the not-so-cheap thrill that would come with the occasional win, she told TODAY.

 

Kate Seselja (pictured) struggled with pokies addiction for a full 13 years after becoming hooked off a $20 dollar bet at the age of 18

Throughout that time she blew more than half a million dollars on the gaming machines, chasing her losses and the not-so-cheap thrill that would come with the occasional win (stock image)

Throughout that time she blew more than half a million dollars on the gaming machines, chasing her losses and the not-so-cheap thrill that would come with the occasional win (stock image)

‘It definitely kind of lit me up inside. At one point,’ Kate reflected.

‘But then it kind of grew into occupying my thoughts all the time. I would hear the sounds in my sleep, and it really overwhelmed me.’

Kate’s rock bottom moment came when she was 32.

‘I’d just accessed the last money that I could, and just so physically, mentally, emotionally drained,’ she recalls.

‘Financially drained. Spent. And I wanted to take my life.’  

Kate revealed that at that moment, her lowest point, the only thing keeping her from committing suicide was the fact that she was pregnant. 

Kate revealed that her rock bottom moment came when she was 32 - having 'just accessed the last money that I could' and at the point of contemplating suicide (stock image)

Kate revealed that her rock bottom moment came when she was 32 – having ‘just accessed the last money that I could’ and at the point of contemplating suicide (stock image)

The next morning her husband encouraged her to seek professional help for her addiction.

Now, having reclaimed her sense of worth and well-being, the mother-of-six has set up ‘The Hope Project’ to help others come to terms with their own problematic behaviour. 

Kate travels the world talking to people about mental health and wellness, and was a finalist in the Australian Institute of Management Awards and the Telstra Women in Business Award in 2016.  

Now, having reclaimed her sense of worth and well-being, the mother-of-six has set up 'The Hope Project' to help others come to terms with their own problematic behaviour

Now, having reclaimed her sense of worth and well-being, the mother-of-six has set up ‘The Hope Project’ to help others come to terms with their own problematic behaviour

‘I know what it feels like to be trapped in that place, and you really need to be met with compassion, rather than judgment,’ she said.

‘Because there is no place for shame. We are all human. We are all fallible.’

Australians are officially the world’s biggest gamblers, spending more per person on betting than any other country.



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