Well here I am againor the 3rd time,fell off the wagon so to speak big this time, I can't seem to help myself,have tried believe me. Going to take Cynical'sad vice and go to a meeting, anything is worth a try,on line slots that get me, other forms of gambling I'm not bothered about. Really want to stop seem to be on self destruct at the moment. One stepat a time I suppose.
liggypops sad to hear that you have had a relapse.
What measures did you have in place before to stop you gambling. You are not alone, pick up the phone and talk to a proffesionsal and talk to your partner/family or friends to help get you through this. Its an illness and you need proper help, read as many posts to get advice if you haven't already.
Its good to talk
Hi friend!
Online slots was my vice. As above, I have to ask what blocks do you have? Mine were not as strong as could be and as a result lapsed after 67 days. Now I am air tight and not gambled for 270ish days! If you don't have the means to gamble, you can't!
I froze my debit and credit cards after scratching off numbers, killed PayPal and phoned my banks to say do not authorise gambling transactions which they did. I put K9 on all devices and router parental control blockers anonymously. I did later tell a partner, but just really started to hate the draw of gambling. Very importantly no dry gambling on free apps or emulations that let you win. If you want to quit heighten your blocks to the nth degree. Don't let anything open.
Keep posting, go severe! I didn't think I needed to be as safe as I am now and it cost me £3k that night after a £1800 loss! My he steak is not worth seeing if it sizzling!
Take care!
liggypops
I have to tell you that without proper blocks you will relapse time and time again. It would happen to most recovering gambling addicts if they dont take these steps.
Its a process of self denial in that your mind may not actually be ready to take these measures. Its absolutely essential that you do.
In a moment of strength you should have self excluded from everywhere you can travel to and all online sites you can think of. If you have a way in, the next time you get stressed, feel flush or have a bad day you will be gambling. I know the feeling of butterflies in the stomach and the surge through your body as your mind craves and sends trigger chemicals round the bloodstream
You need help from everybody close and any counselling or GA meetings.
Please keep talking about how hard you have tried. It took me 10 months after a lifetime of gambling to finally start doing the right things. Before that I was paying lip service to it because my mind didnt want to stop gambling. I knew I had to stop but my mind was controlling me to leave the door open to gamble...perhaps for chasing or its chemical fix. Heck knows I threw away thousands for its chemical fix. I was worried about giving a home address on exclusion forms but in the end I gave them just enough details and told enough people in every place that I was never to be allowed there again...ie they didnt get a full rack of info to protect my privacy. Name and photo did the trick for me backed up by a full confession to my family that I needed help and was seeking help for it.
Many gamblers dont want to hear this in the early stages. A woman got angry with me the other day after I said she had a problem like I had. Even after she told me horror/woe stories about not controlling her gambling and the money lost...she got all indignant and angry with me. Thats how powerful the twisted mind of addiction is. Im glad I said something but she has to be ready to deal with it.
Online gambling is an exponential disaster and its so severe that you will have to hand your gadgets over. Its so severe that you may have to lose the use of the internet if you cant control your gambling blocks.
Areturntoabette...has some great advice above. Youve got to take the fight on and when its all blocked you will win the fight. It will actually be a huge relief to you
I wish you all the best and I hope you are ready to do everything. I repeat that if you leave a way in, you will gamble again bfore the mind has time to heal
Best wishes
Hi,
Regular meetings and or counselling will help, it will be worth it for you.
What blocks do you have? You mentioned in a previous thread that your OH knows, but could you encourage him to get guidance as to how best to help you? I take a v hard line on barriers in our house, to protect myself but also to avoid temptation for him and that does help him. He has a non-internet mobile, a blocked computer and others are password protected, we had him permanently excluded by asking in writing ie by snail mail, he has no current account other than our joint one, I check credit reports and open post. All of which he could get round but at the moment he (not me) doesn't want to. Parental blockers are available or you could get some whizz kid in a phone shop to block your mobile.
It's doable...hope you go for it.
CW
Welcome to the Forums Liggy Pops,
You have taken a positive step by using the Forum and accessint the support from others on here. Please continue to post and seek support and advice from your peers.
As mentioned by some of the other forum members, our helpline and netline advisors are also here to help, if you would like further information on blocks and self-exclusion, as well as accesing support services such as counselling. We are open everyday from 8am to midnight you can call us on ;
Take Care
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