Am I really that bad?

Hi Niall, my situation is very similar to yours I'm the same age and the machines in the bookies have caused me to be in substantial amount of debt. I know how you feel and I'm all too well experienced in the cycles of a compulsive gambler.

How to stop the binges, well for me I first had to really want to stop. I think a lot of people feel the affects of compulsive gambling don't like it, panic realise they have a problem but aren't committed to doing anything about it, you need to reach a stage where you actually want to stop and be committed to stopping.

The next part I think is more down to the individual and I don't think there is one solution that fits all. For me I have handed over my finances to a good friend, I carry little to no cash with me and I've shared all that has happened with one person. There's a lot of advice from more experienced people than me on this forum, one of the first things you can do is self exclude from all the bookmakers that are in your area. You can hand over your finances to someone and only carry cash you really need.

Personally what has helped me the most is sharing this with someone and just knowing that I have someone there I can speak to. The next part for me was accepting the money I've lost, its not coming back and this is the financial position I'm in and the only way it will get better is through not gambling. Starting a diary on here is a good idea just read through some on the recovery diaries section this might be something you would like to do. Wishing you the best of luck mate, the key really is that you have to be 100% committed to stopping.

Some very wise words from William I can only echo what he has said.

For me personally to stop the binges the only way was to stop the gambling completely. Over the years I have cut down hundreds of times but it doesn't last long I'm soon doing the big trebles and betting on anything I can. So I had to do all the things William said starting by wanting to stop more than I wanted to gamble.

Keep posting and have a read of the diaries you will see your not alone

KTF

Thanks for commenting really appreciated! A do realise I need to stop but like you both know it's that mad unexplainable urge that just takes over,it's not about the money or the buzz anymore! A just need to some how stop the thoughts of putting hundreds into these awful machines, am just worried of where is this all gonna end up?

Hi Niall , Like you my problem was with the Fobt's and the only way to avoid them is not to go in the bookies again !

I've tried all sorts to control it , cutting down , just backing dogs or horses but I always get sucked right back in again especially if I won on the dogs , it would be ammunition for the machine ,.

When you think how crazy we are to put money into a machine like that , you hope that youve' staked the max on one number at £100 a spin and if it comes in you get at best £500 out , ask yourself how many times that happens ?, then if the £500 comes out what do we do , walk away and buy something nice ? No way , its not money to us so we chuck it straight back in and when thats gone we get more from the cashpoint just to chase what we had in the first place ! What a cycle ?.

I've not had a bet for 135 days now and never felt happier I've accepted the moneys long gone , so I.m not chasing anymore and I know I will never gamble again !.

Get down the bookies and self exclude , we cant win because we cant stop!

Take care fella !

Hi Niall... welcome to the forum. Read a tale like that of Matthew Etherington to see where it can end up and he is very lucky. A prem league football player clearing £40k a month or so after tax and needing advance lump sum payments to clear all his gambling debts. We'll keep going to the well until it's empty and then disaster really does ensue. Post on here every day and say you haven't gambled. That's a good start. Keep the faith.

Morning all well it's first day of keeping away from the bookies! I'm gonna have to find some dertermination to stop the urge, I would love to quit gambling for good but there is some daft little thought of I am gonna be missing out on something? I already know I'm not gambling has been a massive part of my life for years so just to say bye is weird.

But hey Alan well done for keeping away from gambling for that long, just stopping for a week ATM seems like a mountain but gotta start some where I guess!

cheers

Hi Niall , Try not to look at the big picture at the moment , break it all down and just take 1 hour or 1 day at a time if that's what you need to do , fight the urges and they will pass it's just cravings for something wev'e done for a long time and it takes time to break those feeling's.

The more day's you put between you and the last bet the stronger you become and the easier those feelings are to dismiss !

You know why your here and it wont change until you change !

Stay strong fella and take care !