22nd march 2014 day one

Hi Dean - First of all a big 'well done' for making the decision to stop gambling and to join us on this site. If you read through other stories on here you will soon see that you are not alone a) in the feelings you have and b) there will always be someone here to give you support and wise words.

Have you self-excluded from further temptation? i.e. online sites or bookmakers.

Next, if your problem is with online betting, install a blocking programme such as K9.

These first strategies will help immediately and start you on the journey towards feeling better about yourself and your situation.

Best wishes,

Joanna

Hi Dean,

I am in a very similar situation, I am at the very start of my first real attempt to quit as well. I'm sure it will be difficult and there will be lots of challenges on the way. Make sure you self exclude yourself from all the bookies, and all the online sites. Maybe talk to your wife and hand over complete financial control to her for a while.

Today will be 3 days for me. So I'm not an expert. But know that you're not alone in this.

Keep it up

Good Luck

James

Thanks to you both I have self excluded myself yesterday. I lost £300 yesterday in the morning and that will be my last bet I'm 31 my wife is going back to work very soon after having kids and I feel that this is my last change of getting somewhere in my life I know it's going to be very hard but I have to do this. I would love to own my house and start saving on a pension and I know if I stop going in there the is a strong possibility of me getting that and then I will be a real winner!! Feel so low with myself at the moment. But 100% going to do this. Just thinking of what I can have if I don't go in there and all the nice things we can do with the family with the extra money

You sound very positive dean stick with it you will feel loads better in no time. Good luck and stay strong.

Ste26

Thank you to everyone I have been gamberling for 6 years and gamberling is very hard to over come but I'm going to do it not just for me but my wife and kids. Fed up with hiding bank statements and lieing all the time. Summers is on its way and I'm going to make it a good one I need to put them first. I known it's going to be hard but so going to do this if not for me for family

Keep going Dean - there's a whole new world free of gambling and bad feelings out there and you can be part of it. Come and join us on the 2014 Challenge - it's a team effort to stay 'clean', led by Mr Brightside who tots up all our milestones each Sunday. You'll find it on the 'Overcoming problem gambling' page. The first post will explain it all - all you have to do is go the last page and introduce yourself and then check-in once a week. It's a real help.

Best wishes

Joanna

Thanks Joanna I will look in to that! Been bet free now for 4 days it is hard but feeling good with myself. I now carry a photo of my kids with me and when I want to go in I look at it and say don't go in there if not for me my kids I am bared from my local bookies but in my job i travel about a lot but find the carrying a photo helps!! Will keep you all updated.

Hi Dean - well done on your four days of freedom, and glad that you are feeling better.

That's such a good idea - carrying a family photo with you; it's all about finding little personal strategies to fight our urges. On my desk is a picture of 'The Pardoner' from Chaucer's Canterbury Tales - a hypocrite who was happy to take money from the poor by selling them pigs' bones as holy relics. (Remind you of the gambling business?) His famous quote is "Radix malorum est cupiditas" - from the Bible: "Love of money is the root of all evil". It was certainly love of getting 'easy' money that got me into this evil.

Best wishes to you on your journey.

Joanna

Thanks Joanna just had the real test today just been in town to pay some bills and walked past all the bookies with cash in my pocket!! But payed my bills and walked back so happy with myself but did feel really sick in myself in town could not believe how hard that was! I hope it gets easier in time.

On day 5 now of no gamberling now feel good but finding it hard but on the plus side I have just been offered some overtime at work so that's going to help lots. And also going to open a savings account on the weekend where it needs mine and the wife's signature to get the money out. I'm finding this site a big help to as I know I'm not on my own in all this. Good luck to every one if I'm doing it anyone can.

Hi dean, in exactly the same situation, today was my first day of not gambling and it was ok but then I was busy all day, hope ur staying strong, I need to do this as well, I'm nearly 30 got a good job but have nothing to show for it, onwards and upwards,

hi king 1984 im doing really well thanks. opened a saving account so nice to think I have a saving account I find having a picture of my kids and wife with me are helping a lot I have been in the bookies once and lost 20 and was thinking what am I doing and got the hell out of the place. so 20 in 6 weeks is really good for me as it would have been 600+ or what I could have got my hands on!! I also feel much better with myself also been doing a lot more with my family been out for a family dinner taking the kids out so nice to have some money in my pocket!! the bank did send me a bank card for my saving account so cut it up as did not think it was a good idea what hope every one is doing well