I won a substantial sum in the lottery last year and it's made my life miserable. I am now suffering from depression, and my GP has put me on medication. However, it doesn't seem to be helping with the problem. I resigned from work when I won the money (I'm 46) and thought I'd have fun spending it all, but my life just feels pointless now. I've considered going back to work, but that seems like a waste of time, as I don't need the money. I've considered giving it all to charity, but there are so many worthy causes and to choose one is to deny another. I'm ashamed that I'm handling such good fortune so badly. I am single and worry that women are just interested in me for my money. Any advice?
The lottery winner
I won nearly £1m in the lottery nine years ago and, like you, I gave up work, thinking I'd spend the rest of my life enjoying my money. I was a lorry driver and lived on a council estate, so the win was a dream come true. I spent three years on holiday until it hit me - I was bored. I needed some direction, so I set up a business. I wanted to feel I had earned my money. Now my company turns over £1m a year, and I work harder now than I ever did. l don't even touch my lottery money. My advice to you is to set up your own business, too, or do something worthwhile, like working for a charity. Also, think about joining a club. I joined a golf club and it's been fantastic. I've met so many interesting people and really enjoy the sport. But probably the most important thing to do is talk to other Lottery winners (ask Camelot to put you in touch) who can give you advice. That will help more than any doctor.
Mark Brudenell, 42, won £916,915 in the Lottery in February 1997
The fundraiser
More than 500,000 people work for charities in the UK, making a real difference in our society. You could gain a sense of purpose in life by becoming one of them. Find a cause that you are passionate about and make your money work hard. Why not lend your money to charities that need help growing, and when they pay you back you can reinvest it? Visit www.venturesome.org.uk.. Talk to a charity that champions the causes you care about. See how you can get involved. Websites like www.do-it.org offer a range of volunteering opportunities. If you want to make sizeable donations to charity, talk to New Philanthropy Capital (www.philanthropycapital.org). Or consult www.communityfoundation.org.uk, which can distribute your money to charities in your community. It's time to stop feeling sorry for yourself and contribute to positive change in society.
Lindsay Boswell
Chief executive of the Institute of Fundraising
The psychologist
It sounds like you expected your lottery win to remove any obstacles to happiness, and now feel confused and guilty because it hasn't. Contact a cognitive behavioural therapist. A good CBT practitioner will help you rethink your life. Maybe you are the type of person who needs to keep busy, so you could think about setting yourself a new challenge. Your words suggest that you may have low self-esteem, as you feel unsure of who really likes you for 'you'. A good way to alleviate this is to maintain (or rekindle) contact with friends and family who were close to you before the win. Also, sit down and make a list of what made you unhappy before the lottery win, and which of these can be solved by your money - maybe it's taking some hard-up friends on holiday. Look for the positives in your situation, and you may start to see the money as a way of exerting control over your life, rather than a means of losing it.
Dr Sandy Wolfson
Head of psychology at Northumbria University
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