Recovering gambling addict Craig Clements says music and poetry have become vital tools in his recovery journey, helping him manage his mental health and move away from destructive gambling habits.
A Long Battle with Addiction
Craig, 49, from Chesterfield, spent years battling addiction to betting on horses, football and roulette machines, at one point building up debts of around £80,000. After seeking help from the East Midlands Gambling Harms Service, Craig completed a 12-week programme including therapy, workshops and group support, which he says helped him begin to take back control.
“It was brilliant and really helped me to change my life,” he said. “I realised that it’s a journey you have to go on and that if you have a blip, it’s OK, it’s not the end of the world.”
Creative Expression as Therapy
Alongside NHS support, Craig has turned to creative expression, writing hundreds of poems and transforming them into music using digital tools. He has also begun releasing tracks online, including his single 'Light In My Notes'.
“I have had a lot of troubles with my mental health over the last year or so, and writing poetry and music has really helped me,” he said. “I’m also writing my memoir and trying to get that published.”
Craig says creativity has long been an outlet for him, and he now uses it to reflect on addiction, recovery and mental health.
“I started trying to put some of them to music then uploaded them onto an app which uses AI to put the words and music together,” he said. “It has been a great outlet for me during difficult times.” He added that sharing his music has also helped others: “A man came over and asked me what it was… he told me he had been struggling but listening to the songs really helped him. I was so pleased that they’d helped, and I hope they help other people too.”
Breaking the Stigma
Craig said his experiences have shown him the importance of speaking openly about addiction and emotions: “Men don’t ask for help because it is bred into us from a young age to be strong… writing my songs really helps me to express myself even when times are bad and my biggest hope is that they can help others too.”
The East Midlands Gambling Harms Service is delivered by Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and supports people across the region through therapy, specialist treatment and peer-led recovery support.
