Basically - Help

I'm in the early days of stopping so not the best to provide advice but certainly know where you are and you what you're going through.

Talking to people on here has made me feel so much better. You're not alone and you are in the right place.

Use this as much as you can, there are some amazingly supportive people on here and plenty who will give you sound advice.

You've realised the problem is there which is half the battle, now make today the start of a new you.

Good luck mate.

Hi Daz,

Welcome to the forum....you will get great advice from both sides of the fence here.

First thing I would do would be to have a chat with someone from gamcare . You can call them or speak to them online.

Secondly you need to get as many blockers in place to make gambling more difficult for you. Limit the money you have available to you. I see you don't want to tell your wife but is there someone else you could confide in to begin with?

Have a read through some of the diaries on here....you will see you are not alone.

You've made the first step and that can be the hardest.

Good luck going forward.

Damian

Hi Bluedaz,

A very warm welcome to our forum.

I’m glad you joined us, you can get a lot of support and advice from others like you here on the forum and you have already been warmly welcomed by Sweeper and Damian.

Stopping a gambling problem is not easy and it is important to get as much help and support as you can.

You can contact us for one to one support and information on our Helpline 0808 8020133 or the Netline http://www.gamcare.org.uk/netline both lines are open every day from 8am to midnight.

As already suggested it is important to install a blocking software on your laptop and phone to block all access to online gambling sites, it stops you from being able to open new accounts.

If you are in debt it may also be helpful to get free advice on debt management.

Keep posting

Warm regards

Catarina

Thanks guys. It so hard when u know you can't go on. Even now all I think about is having a little dabble see if I can recoup my loses but I know in my heart I won't. Just gotta stay strong and seek out the support around. I have emailed impact today to see if I can go to see some one. Hopefully get through the next few days and the urge will gradually go. 🙁

I'm in early early days too. I'm throwing myself into anything I can, work, gym, calling old friends basically trying to stay as busy as I can. It might not help and you might already be doing this but it's really helping me so thought I would share. Keep focused. You're in the right frame of mind to beat this.

Hi Bluedaz30. Is your wife getting professional help for her PND?

I only ask because gambling addiction feeds on the need to escape reality, so you are going through your own personal tough time, but when you come home you are also having to deal with your wife and child then you are only human. Who could judge you if you wanted to get some "me time" and pretend you'll win enough money to change the world you're trapped in.

You get me?

Sometimes it helps in the short term to focus on other people and make sure they're okay, because in doing so we forget about ourselves - kinda like a positive version of the negative gambling which, in the short term, helps us forget about ourselves too.

Thanks guys. She has started to get some help and looking back I do believe my gamblerling started to get out of hand after the birth which as you say might of been me trying to get so me time and lose my self for a while.

I have thought long and hard about talking to my wife and although I know it is the best thing to do I don't want to put any more pressure on her as I know she is fighting her own demons. I have contacted a local charity hoping they might be able to get me in so I can talk to them so I can at least get my thoughts off my chest if that makes sense.

But in a positive note I did not have a gamble yesterday and although this is a small step to most people and my seem daft I was quite proud of myself, the urge is stronger than ever but I have just got to stay positive and hope to keep on track. It does help having people to talk to and also reading other posts. I think the best thing for me I believe is to combat the addiction and then look at my finances. I know there both important but I need to focus on one first and then other will sort them self out. As although I am in debt I am in top of my bills so I have got some lea way there.

Thank you all again for the advice it does help and the more I read and write the more I am starting to open up.

Hi blue...welcome...well done for coming on here...as you start to open up and talk on here you will gain strength to get recovery on the way....I hope you get some support from impact...or ring gamcare....I understand your decision to not tell your wife while she is so venerable. ...and some won't...but I do agree with you.... do you have family or a close mate who could support you with all this....and I think you are wise trying to sort the gambling first then the money side of things will come later....take one day at time and look after yourself xxx

Thanks again tithe support, I am find it easier to right down my thoughts for all to see, and what I do like is that I have not been judged by any one.

So yesterday was day two of no gamblerling and although I logged in to one site I never had a gamble( the only reason I logged on was to make sure the balance was empty and I told my self that if it was not that I had to withdraw it) but after a good think I came of and did nothing which has made me quite proud.

2 days and counting. Thanks again for all the support.