Back with a new thread!

Self exclude your self from everything literally everything.

I was exactly the same as you for a long time. I knew I had a problem. I admitted it. But I avoided putting measures in place to stop. I wasn't ready to and my mind still kept telling me I could control it. I couldn't and you can't. I was also at the point where if I had no money then it didn't bother me not to gamble. But come payday...boom. All gone. This is why u have to hand over to someone else until your stronger and u have "retrained" your brain. I meant what I said. The first time u keep Ur wage without gambling will be your turning point x

..........

Joydivider don't give up trying Hun. U recognise Ur triggers and in the grand scheme of things Ur still doing well. Call it a blip, dust yourself down and get back on with your recovery. I don't mean to be personal but have you spoke to a doctor about depression? I avoided it for a long time bcos I was convinced I caused the depression myself with my gambling but I'm actually finding the opposite is true! It's hard to change Ur life when there are things like employment that u can't change yourself and find work. Maybe when Ur feeling a little happier u will have more luck in your job search. What about a change in career? Even if it's the most basic of job on low pay it will give u a focus and give you some pride back in yourself. It's also aLot easier to get a job when Ur already in employment so would be easier for u to move on. Uv probably already thought about all this so forgive me if I sound patronising. I just really want u to see that there is hope x

..........

I know how u feel seeing a doctor that doesnt understand. I remember years ago trying to get help and as I sat sobbing in the surgery the doctor told me "just dont gamble!" as much help as a chocolate fireguard. Lol. Times have changed though and gambling has become a recognised addiction. The doctor I'm seeing now is fab and totally understands. Please do try again. X

I know how u feel seeing a doctor that doesnt understand. I remember years ago trying to get help and as I sat sobbing in the surgery the doctor told me "just dont gamble!" as much help as a chocolate fireguard. Lol. Times have changed though and gambling has become a recognised addiction. The doctor I'm seeing now is fab and totally understands. Please do try again. X

I know how u feel seeing a doctor that doesnt understand. I remember years ago trying to get help and as I sat sobbing in the surgery the doctor told me "just dont gamble!" as much help as a chocolate fireguard. Lol. Times have changed though and gambling has become a recognised addiction. The doctor I'm seeing now is fab and totally understands. Please do try again. X

Hi Joydivider and new name ive been lurking reading posts. Sorry to hear your not so good too Joyrider. Im in this numb state again at the mo no energy to do anything. Killing me slow my personality is all sucked up. Struggling quite a bit with the fact I have 0p to last me the month. Half bills paid.

Why do we do it....

xx

Just so confused right now. I can be so stable and switched on human being one minute, so smart and responsible. The next im careless and money is no object. It not just with gambling If i have credit or credit cards or money (if i wasnt always so skint) then Id spent endless amounts on make up and clothes with no care in the world to how ill pay it back. Im so unhappy, I see people and get so jealous and hurt that this had to happen to me.

ODAAT, are you there for some advice also ?! :'(

xx

I'm here girlie...Back like a broken record to say you have to share this burden & I mean properly share it!

I have been considering GA as a potential tool should I find myself thinking I'm cured when I reach my current target! Dan has written some explanation of the 12 step program on my diary today explaining it much better than Dr Google did. This may be worth a read!

For what it's worth, I don't think you are poorly...People that know me would never believe in a million years I am a CG! I held everything together, lent money right left & centre, dishing it out because it had no value to me & yet shopped in 3 different supermarkets to save tuppence on my necessities! True, some nights after I'd rearranged my finances again (perhaps for the 2nd or 3rd time that day), I'd promise myself never again before crying myself to sleep & then waking up & racing straight back to it forced me to question my sanity! But I just considered my material things & justified to myself that I must be sane because I had a car & a roof & a job!

It has 'happened' & you can't change that but you hold the key to putting a stop to it & to do that you need to accept that gambling offers no solutions! You cannot control your gambling except by stopping it & it seems impossible but it isn't, I promise you!

Keep fighting - ODAAT

Just had a thought...(Forum mentioned it on another post so I know I'm not just making it up now) What about downgrading your bank account? If yours doesn't do a basic account, swap to one that does. You will need to be super organised with stuff like petrol but I think that's well within your capabilities! The other option (if you're not that organised) is to perhaps look into credit cards that won't allow gambling transactions...My Nationwide card had something in the small print about it but my poison is different so I never gave it another thought except to sigh & half wish my bank account offered the same protection!

Jamie I also had the thinking I am bipolar. I have so many downs and highs from nowhere and my cousin is bipolar too. However, depression alone can cause this and the way we live our life being so unhappy. U need to start helping yourself hunni. U don't have to tell me how hard it is but I promise when u take the first step it falls into place. Read back my posts from when I came back in March. I almost committed suicide and was serious. Fast forward just a few months and I'm really doing this. I'm 13 year a gambler. Iv lost 2 jobs because of it and in the early years lost my home to voluntary repossession. If I can do this then u can. U just need a good kick up the a**e to get started x

Hi ODAAT nice to see your still here!! I have a basic account at the mo. Its all I am allowed! Im currently in the worst state I have ever been financially. Im taking this once again as the last straw. Im tackling my problems head on. I cant live like this anymore I swear to you guys I get paid next week early this month and I will 1000000% not gambling. Thats my pledge to you guys and myself and im sticking to it ok. Im not gonna let myself or anyone down anymore. I need to start rebuilding my life and more importantly my dire financial situation.

Just a question if you guys dont mind, I know it takes ages but hw soon after quiting gambling did your finances improve?

much love xxx

Hi J, how on earth did you manage to deposit then 🙁 Surely the basic account is just a cash card? But, irrelevant! Finances must vary depending on what state people have gotten themselves into & how good their credit rating is (payday loans, 0% credit cards, no debt everyone is different) but the 1st pay packet you don't gamble will mean you are better of than this!

Call me suspicious but by tackling this head on do you mean using steely determination or do you actually mean head on with some help? I meant it every single time I said 'no more' & that was a LOT for many many months but every time my withdrawal limits reset, my body marched me straight back to it despite my pea brain feebly arguing that it was a bad idea! You need something more in place for next week otherwise it will be a flipping long Summer for you! Phone the bank the day before & report your card lost, when the new one comes through, scratch off the CVV number, exclude from the sites...You have to make yourself safe because your brain is still managing to persuade you that the elusive big win will solve all this! It won't, you will just gamble all that away too! I know how hard it is to let the past losses go, I've been there when my outgoings are higher than my incomings but I can assure you, gambling didn't help, it just made it worse!

Be strong J - ODAAT