Do Anti-Gambling Books help or hinder?

Hi I havent brought any books I have heard people say the Allen Carr gambling book is useful but maybe just read a bit each day instead if overwhelming yourself 

The best aids for me was getting blocks in place such as gamstop..and getting my debt under control with stepchange.

Have you tried finding something to replace the gambling instead ? Maybe your mind needs a break from it all together. How about trying an ebook  that's something totally different to give your mind a rest for a bit..if you struggle with urges gamcare is always here 

Loulou x

Dear @amba,

Thank you for reaching out and your post to the forum. 

Please note that you can contact us at Gamcare on 0808 8020 133 or via our live chat to speak with an adviser and we will be happy to offer you further support or advice. We are available 24/7, so please feel free to contact us.

Regards 

Forum Admin

Thank you Lou and I hope you are OK this morning.

I get what you mean about not getting too overwhelmed with it all. I put an app on my phone called Bet blocker but sadly I'm now left with a defective tablet - on which I can still access all the gambling sites as normal!! (Buy havent). Sending you warm regards and thanks again for replying.

Thanks Forum Admin.

A couple of times in the dead of night I've satried staring at the "talk" icon on the website but didn't do anything about it. I always think what if I don't make sense, what it I can't explain myself properly and make a fool of myself - what if ......

I've not told anyone about my gamblind and sometimes just holding it all in feels impossible when there's been a bad situation to get through earlier in the day.

Maybe I'll try again to speak with someone. (I do have a good counsellor as well).

Thanks again for your reply. 

HiAmba, there is nothing that you could say that they haven't heard before. Next time you are in that bad place in the night give it a try you have nothing to lose everything to gain. You are doing well despite what you think keep going it will work for you. I know it's hard but it's so worth it. I'm 173 day today 4th Dec will be 6 months and truthfully I never thought I would do it. If I can you can. Take care

Go on the GA website and look at the Questions and answers about compulsive gambling and Towards 90 days better known as the Orange and Blue books.

They should help you.

Chris.

Hi Amba.

I think my best advice here is that you don't have to rush into things like books. Put them down and come back to them when you are ready for more. 

You have a lot to think through and you do it as gently as you can. With blocks in place and having told people close, time should be more on your side.

You deal with the process in your best way (with the tried and trusted foundations) The book may not be structured in a way that feels immediately helpful

I didn't buy a gambling help book but I have read many articles on it all when I was ready to. They dont have to make sense immediately and I just picked up a few points then came back to read them later in the recovery process.

Time is a healer and its a step by step process. After a while you find your mind is in a better place to pick up more reading material.

There is a lot to think about and you cant do it all at once..get one thing clear in your mind and talk it through...then you can look at what branches from that.

The way I feel is that eventually you will want to know how and why? It will interest you more as your mind is adjusting and the gambling is further behind you. It wont make you restless because you will be in a calmer, more controlled place

Make no mistake....... its a cold turkey process...your mind has been altered in ways you may not understand now...both your mind and body were craving something extremely harmful.

Being at peace with yourself is the main aim. Information overload is not a good idea all at once.....its not helpful all at once in my view....you wont compute it until the mind is ready for a next stage.....think of it as a course over a much longer time period...any learning course starts with the basics

Best wishes from everyone on the forum

Hello Joydivider

Thanks so much for your reply. I don't always remember that I am able to set it to watch out for the replies so I feel a bit bad about missing your response.

I liked your comment about being at peace with yourself. I am truly not and I feel like a fiery ball of rage and anger. I don't know whether that's because I can't gamble or because I now have little choice but to dwell on the things that cause me emotional pain - maybe it's the same.thing.

In one sense I desperately wish I hadn't applied blocks and GamStop but I now know I no longer have to wrestle with weak willpower and that does make a difference.

Thanks so much again for your reply and warmest wishes to you.