5 months GF then Cheltenham got me

out of all the gambling products i have experienced i find horse racing the most baffling 

it is literally a lottery on what can happen the prices don't even make any sense to me the races are boring and i always feel bad for the horses 

its not the end of the world take the lesson and learn from it !!

As a partner of somebody who has completely fell under the spell of Cheltenham races this week, I really hope you can stop now and learn from how this has made you feel... 

Thanks Lily. Won’t be watching anymore of it. Hope things are ok for you. Here’s to a month of feeling guilty and having no money. All my own fault again 

Dear @sm8,

Thank you for posting. I'm sorry to hear of your recent relapse and the struggles that you're experiencing.

If you need support with essential living costs until your next payday, please contact The Citizens Advice to discuss any options available to help you.

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/

You can also access your local food bank if you're struggling to buy food.

www.trusselltrust.org/get-help/find-a-foodbank/

https://www.salvationarmy.org.uk/emergency-assistance

The positive to take from this is that you now know this is a trigger for you, hopefully you can put blocks and strategies in place to avoid this triggering you again? Some people find it helps to not watch the racing live so that you're unable to place a bet, even if you feel the urge to.

It may help to self exclude from gambling too if you haven't already?

https://www.gamstop.co.uk/ - Self exclusion from online gambling. There is also blocking software and ad blockers available for your phone or device if online gambling is the way you access gambling.

https://self-exclusion.co.uk/ - Self exclusion from betting shops.

I must remind you that five months of gamble free is an amazing achievement and this recent relapse does not take that away from you. Or take away all the hard work that you put in to achieve this.

There are set backs in life meaning things don't always go the way we planned, I know this has left you feeling low and I understand that. It doesn't mean it has to stay this way though or that this is your future, you have the ability to become gamble free again. We know you can do this and so do you because you've already achieved five months of it!

Many people find opening up to a trusted person or people helps support them and to release the weight they are carrying alone. This includes talking to your GP for support too if you feel you need it?

If you would like to talk things through with us or you feel a free referral for counselling would help then please call our helpline on 0808 8020 133 or use our Netline via our GamCare website. We're open day and night so we're always here.

Please be kind to yourself and start again with your journey to becoming gamble free. You can do this.

Take care,

Joanne

Forum Admin

Hi 

Some good advice already given. I'd just like to echo that watching it on TV would be a trigger for you. If I see adverts come on TV late I night I get anxious and on edge.  

Also agree on self excluding everywhere, with gamstop and Sense too 

5 months is amazing! You've had a relapse don't worry. Just learn from it. 

Good luck buddy. X