hi so I’m new here I’ve been gambling 8 years now I reckon and I’ve won some big amounts and lost some big amounts but right now I cant carry on it’s doesnt matter anymore if I’m up I’ll keep going I play roulette on the video machines in the shops and I’m not stupid I realise there is only ever going to be one winner but I do it anyway and it has destroyed my life and I wanna stop but I don’t know how I’ve sought advice and help online but it doesn’t strike me as helpful for me I’m sure it is for some but not for me if anyway has any suggestions or advice it would be welcomed as I can’t cope with how it makes me feel and how my life revolves around gambling.
Have you had the standard advice of coming clean, handing over your finances, installing blockers, self excluding and attending counselling and GA? If so there's not much anyone can add. Taking or leaving advice is up to you but nothing changes if nothing changes.
Yeah I’ve heard all that and tried all that with very little success to be honest
There isn't much else you can do.
You have to want to make the avalible blocks/support work for you. Tighten them as much as you can/need to. The choices are the same for us all. You can make them work. If you restrict your money, you can't gamble. If you fill your spare time on other things, you can't gamble. If you don't walk into/self exclude from the bookies, you can't gamble.
It's not easy but if you don't try to stop gambling you will keep gambling. I hope you can find a strategy that works for you!
I agree those blocks will help if u go through with them I multiself excluded which involves a phonecall that's it
Hello Depaor1,
You're welcome to call us on our freephone 0808 8020 133 for details of various types of support, like free therapy sessions, group therapy, CBT, online therapy, residential treatment... perhaps there is something that you haven't yet tried that might be of interest to you.
As other forum members have pointed out, your own commitment to working on your recovery is also an important factor, but if you're struggling to build or maintain your motivation, or hesitating to take actions that could protect your recovery, then using regular support may help with your motivation too.
If you like, you could start a recovery diary here, or join our live chat rooms, to see if that supports your progress a bit.
Take care,
Forum admin.
Depaor1 wrote:
Yeah I’ve heard all that and tried all that with very little success to be honest
The harsh reality is you have to decide how much you really want to stop and therefore how much effort you want and need to put into stopping.
The standard advice of breaking the money-time-location triangle can work but if you have little willpower yourself then the blocks are going to have to be fairly severe. No credit/debit cards, limited amounts of cash given to you by a friend/family member who will want receipts for everything you spend it on. Exclusion from all casino/bookies within your potential travelling area and software on all devices with internet access to prevent online gambling. Change your lifestyle so you do not have the free time to gamble, take up a new hobby, get fit.
My view, for what it is worth, is all the blocks in the world are pointless unless you really want to give up. No one else can turn a switch and make you stop gambling. Blocks are useful to help resist short term urges but you will find a way past them if you really want to.
Don't give up on the idea of counselling or GA - I found counselling really useful as it helped me realise some of my thought processes and beliefs were not helpful to my mental wellbeing. Not tried GA myself but many on here have so maybe give it a go.
Good luck and keep posting.
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