Day 2 of the rocky road to being gamble free!!

Hi Bob, welcome to the Forum and well done for your two days, and your positive post here,

I gambled for twenty years before stopping over five years ago.

My biggest ever win was £7000 on FOBT Roulette - I booked into a nice hotel, I had a nice meal, I went and had some drinks; I came back and counted out all the notes on the bed - I suddenly felt quite depressed because I knew it would all go at some point; all it was was coloured paper that served to fuel my compulsive gambling problem - I knew I could never spend it.

Sure enough, I lost the lot the following morning, which was the beginning of the end for me. I think along the same lines as you do - is it really worth it? Risking everything for money that you can never spend?

If you have the mindset to use these negative experiences to stop you, then you are doing exactly the right thing my friend. As you said, your stakes got higher; they always will because your previous stakes won't mean as much anymore, it won't give you the euphoria that you crave.

The main thing for you my friend is to draw a line under these ten years; you have been down that dark path many times as you have said - at 25, that isn't as bad as it could be; you are entitled to have some bumps in the road - what you need to do is stop this becoming something that blights your entire life. Imagine if you are posting here again aged 35, or 45; imagine what damage you could potentially do to the best years of your life.

Work on conquering boredom as you say; write a plan of what you want to do before you are 30, the places you want to go, the things you want to achieve - it doesn't matter if they all come true but it will give you focus, which is very important when you are bored, or at a low point. Take it slowly - it won't happen overnight but take small steps to achieve these things as often as you can.

I wish you well my friend. Hopefully, this is the start of a brighter path for you - there are a lot of open doors at your age, I would try and go through all of them if I were you.

JamesP

Hello mate well done for coming on here.todays my 5th day with no trips to the bookies or online.this morning i walked past a bookmakers and see a bloke try to hit a machine as he had lost all his money.he walked out looking like the world was about to end.its things like that make me think theres no way i want to end up like that.ive walked past loads of bookies now and fell epic lol for not going in.Good luck.

well done mate...i am on day two after doing nearly 3k in a machine in *******. i was on a winning streak but new it would all end one day giving more back. this is going to be hard but i am determined to beat this.

Thanks a bundle for the feedback people.

Some really good advice and experiences to take on board. Things like this are not an over night cure for sure but iv'e always stood by with time an determination things can change slowly but surely.

It's real early days as from now but i hope to take it day by day which is for me the best way to go about things. It's actually crazy to see how many people go through the same bullsh1t when it comes to addiction but im sure if we can keep supporting each other about this terrible mental aspect. Life will be a much more enjoyable place.

Regards.

Hi bobby

Like you I've just joined this forum after previous stints at stopping/starting gambling. During my first attempt at been gamble free (i managed 9 months) I found talking up a hobby, mine been going to the gym was a big help it took my mind off gambling by keeping busy I also went to my local ga meetings which are great they give you so much support and guidance its unreal. Stick in there pal and you can beat this horrible f####d up addiction I'm sure!!

Hi Matt,

9 Months!? That's fantastic mate, how comes you went back into it then? Because i know personally how easy it is to stir back into this addiction. Something as easy as purchasing a scratch card from the paper shop on the off chance for a quid or a lottery ticket an then boom your back into that dark place with big stake's again!

I have officially nearly gone a week now with out flipping a coin and it actually feels great, the longest i have been gamble free i'd say is about a month, so i'm hoping to at least beat that an much more. I'm the same as you too matt, iv'e started to go gym again and it certainly does take ya mind off things and keep you busy which is awesome. I'm going to look into my local G-A meetings an go also to give me more things to do as-well.

It hasn't been easy so far over this previous week being free from gambling. Being a long term gambler as myself it was pretty much on my mind near enough all the time as a-lot of addicted gamblers can relate. Even sometimes dreamed of it from time to time lol. But the best thing is in reality i'm refusing to gamble even when i'm surrounded by it on the high street, internet, t.v ads etc. So i'm gonna keep this going an feel good about it!

Wish you well mate.

Bobby.