BOOKIES ABOUT TO RE-OPEN

Hi @yozza67 you have done so well. I'm hoping that you find it in you to resist temptation. I'm a 20 year gambler online bingo slots etc . I was found out by my husband early last Friday morning so last Thursday was my last gambling day. Wishing you all the best and hoping you walk past the bookies

Always thought I could win a little then get off, but always put my winnings back plus lost some more. Have used online casinos, slots and dog racing

Hi yozza.

If you are facing this, have told your family and have proper blocks in place you wont be worried about when the gambling dens open their wicked doors  of temptation again.

Nothing personal against you but I have to say thats a worrying title and choice of words as if the only thing stopping you has been the lock down. Its not a good title for a recovery forum and reads like a giant advert for those who are not strong

If you think a bit of willpower is all thats needed, you are in danger of relapsing.

Im going to sound tough on you as your amazing family were just bailing you so you could gamble again. They should never be bailing you again because you should have told them to protect them

You should now be doing the cold turkey with proper blocks in place. I would hope the gambling dens never reopen but Im calm in my long recovery that it doesn't bother me if and when they do.

You will thank the people who are tough on you yozza so you will get no soft talk from me. Gambling is a drug addiction and they were the pushers. I hope you have told your family

Best wishes to stay gamble free from everyone on the forum

Hi guys who are posting on here. The thing about posting on here is that we don't know these people we have to believe we are helping each other. I understand what you mean about the title.... But it grabbed my attention as someone trying to find the first steps. In the future I will ask " help the bingo halls are opening " during lockdown and first part of my recovery I don't have to confront it right now. I will have to and most of my social life and friends for 20 year's have revolved around it . Going to a bingo hall for the first time 20 years ago was my first fateful taste of gambling at a time unfortunately when I was the most vulnerable in my life absolute recipe for disaster for me . It awakened that dark place in me. Yozzas initial post was quite short compared to the most I've seen. I would like to get a better insight of yozzas  life and gambling addiction as people have with me. I understand the tough love approach and today day 6 !!! Yeyyy  of cold turkey with full blocks in place I could take it and relish the input day one I iwould have fun for the hills !! So I would like to see if yozza posts again. And does anyone know when bingo halls open can I self exclude from there ?? Hoping everyone to succeed regards @charlieboy

Hi Yes I understand its probably just innocent wording and I haven't censored his words.

Its an unfortunate choice of wording and I have to make the point. Im not making assumptions about yozza but gamblers minds are confused in the early days of recovery and the urges are still there

Its a deadly addiction which is why I dont soft soap people. It actually helps more than soft soaping. I could just say there there and take care to everyone and it would not make them think as much as being challenged

Even is they get miffed with me its a reaction we can talk through.

I spent 10 months when I started on the forum doing little if anything to stop my gambling. Its the people that were tougher on me that I thank now. One person said I was playing at it and I got so angry I deleted all my posts. I spent hours like a sulking child deleting every post!

He was right and I thank him from the bottom of my heart now. Thats because I finally saw sense and realised he was telling the truth. I was avoiding the truth! It began to dawn on me how ill and confused I was.

So I word it like that to yozza because I genuinely care about him. I used to get loads of replies saying take care mate/ sweetheart. They were nice but not ultimately the replies that made me face myself and my addiction.

So we do care about each other on here and there is room for some tougher wording

All the best to everyone on the forum

Thank you all for your feedback  I always thought I would be the one to beat the bookies in the war, but now realise there is no winning, just a waste of time and there is nothing to be won anyway. I have always gambled up until now and gave been in a family full of gamblers for generations. I feel their is a connection genetically. I realise this is only a few days so far and there is a long way to go.

A few days without gambling is absolutely brill I'm day 6 today and although I do feel anxious nervous bit agitated I'm also pleased with myself . I haven't gone this long without gambling for probably 3years . I'm pleased with myself you should be pleased with yourself. This is my worst time of day as my husband always goes to bed 6-6.30 and obv my teenage boy holed up online with his m8s. Last Thurs night I was gambling heavy by now. Have I got the urge.... Yes. Am I giving in... Nope but thank God for the blocks giving me breathing space to make good choices. I'm hoping that you can carry on I'll always reply to you

Thanks for your response. I have blocked my gambling online and started this topic as I have not yet blocked my gambling in the shops themselves. Used to be the worse when I had birthdays or special events coming up thinking I could pay for the nights out with bookmakers money only to lose due to greed and the chase