Around 6 weeks ago I came onto this forum in a severely depressed state, I had lost over £1200 in 2 gambling sprees (something I said I would stop in the new year but got sucked in) I read through many different peoples post and saw how relatable we all are. Gambling is evil and can turn you into a different person, whenever I was up I wanted more, and whenever I was down I needed to get it back...there is no such thing as a win!
I know 5 weeks isn’t long In the grand scheme of things and I’ve gone without betting for 4/5 month periods in the 11 years I’ve gambled but this time I know it’s for the long run I just wanted to share a few things that have helped and deter me from even thinking about gambling just so anybody who is trying to quit at the same stage as me could follow.
1) block your bank cards from gambling transactions...this can last 3 days so if you do get urges online you can’t deposit.
2) when you get bored and you have the time to gamble, come on to this forum and read the latest stories, do you really want to be in the same position again as you was previous, in a devastated state and feeling hopeless. Genuinely I read these messages every day and it does put me off gambling, especially after such a break.
3) install gamblock or sign up to Gamstop ( that is the only way you’ll stop 100%) set it for as long as possible
4) the main one for me, I’ve set myself some very big and ambitious Aims, I’ve wrote my expected finances per week out until the end of the year, I’ve aimed to have enough saved to get another mortgage, something I would of never done if I carried on gambling. My heart is now in this and gambling will not get in the way.
gambling has already took 1/3 of my life away, made me severely depressed, never happy, ruined relationships it was all I focussed on, I’ve got a 5 year gamblock on so I can’t gamble online and I’ll never set foot in a bookies again. You are the only one who can get yourself out this mess. I still feel sick at the thought of losing over 60k at the age of 29 now but it’s now in the past and there is so much to look forward to, than waiting for the next payday to try and get a big win.
once again I’m not saying I’m a success story yet as it’s been 5 weeks but I know with what I’ve got In place, this forum to come to and to read people’s stories I know I’m committed to it. Big thanks to the people who advise and help on this forum, you are making peoples lives worth living and turning them round. Hopefully I can offer such advice in a year or 2 as this is a disease and people need help as it can ruin your life in no time.
Great advice there! I too am around the 6 week mark and I especially liked your point about coming on this website to deter yourself from gambling - I do really feel for the desperate posts as it really resonates with me when I was at my lowest. Keep going you're doing great!
Lucy 🙂
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