Former gym instructor and Leeds lad Nathan Barnes started gambling when he was 18 years old. Seven years later, he had three bad debt credit cards, a high interest overdraft, a standard overdraft, four payday loans and £4,500 of tuition loans . . . and found himself sleeping on his brother’s floor.

He suddenly realised he needed to make a change when someone at work told him they'd been diagnosed with terminal cancer. He said: “I was wasting my life trying to win money from companies designed to take my money from me. After that I vowed never to gamble again and confessed everything to my family and friends. I also vowed to my new partner that I would never gamble again and that has been absolutely crucial in my recovery.

“What I would say to myself if I was dealing with my undiagnosed self would be to conjure up the courage to accept you’ve got a problem and you need help.”

If you’re struggling with gambling addiction or know somebody who is, you can get help from the NHS Northern Gambling Service by calling on 0300 3001490, email [email protected] or visit https://www.northerngamblingservice.n....