180K in Debt from a Crippling Gambling Addiction
From Soberly Speaking by Julia Rangiheuea
February 22, 2026 · 41 min · Season 4 · Episode 3
About this episode
Henry Brayshaw shares his journey of overcoming a crippling gambling addiction that left him $180K in debt.
At 26, Henry Brayshaw was drowning in hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt from his gambling addiction. Gambling had felt normal since childhood. Some of his earliest memories were placing bets on the Melbourne Cup and slipping into the TAB. What started as something familiar slowly became uncontrollable. As the debt piled up, so did the shame. He self-harmed and isolated himself in a dark room for days.The turning point wasn’t dramatic. It was honest. He told his best friend at the time, Annie, and that was the moment he stopped running. Now, he urges anyone struggling to register with BetStop , Australia’s national self-exclusion scheme. Register yourself with BetStop HERE Follow Henry on Instagram: @henry.brayshaw Trigger warning: This episode discusses childhood sexual abuse in detail. Ready to share your story? Email: hello@soberlyspeaking.com.au Disclaimer: The stories and experiences shared in this episode are personal accounts told in good faith. While we strive to present these narratives accurately, the views and claims expressed are those of the individuals involved and have not been independently verified. Soberly Speaking and its host, Julia Rangiheuea…
People in this episode
Host: Julia Rangiheuea
Guest: Henry Brayshaw
Topics covered
- gambling addiction
- debt
- mental health
- self-harm
- recovery
- support systems
Keywords
- gambling addiction
- debt
- mental health
- self-exclusion
- BetStop
- recovery
- shame
- self-harm
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: BetStop, Soberly Speaking, National Alcohol & Other Drug Hotline
Places: Australia
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