First day of quitting

Hello Sam and a warm welcome to the forum! You will find a great deal of help here - we are all in the same position in this fight to beat to death this awful addiction. There are so many people using this site who are so helpful, encouraging and supportive. I have been using the site for a month or so... it's not easy, but with help, you can do it. I'm not in any great position to offer advice as I have had the occasional 'slip' but I really feel I'm getting there! I think the first thing you need to do is self-exclusion by every means you can think of. It's important to start your 'recover diary' ... that's where all your support lies, as well as the helpline if you need it. You should read all the posts and you must keep posting ... no one other than the people here know of my addiction and it helps so very much to be able to discuss it with others who REALLY understand what you're going through. No need to feel lonely and bored - you will find so many friends here.....don't be bored... Just keep talking!!! You can beat this awful thing. Chin up!! Helen. X

Hey Helen

Thank you for replying that helped so much. It made me smile, as I can't really talk to anybody about this. Other then as time goes on maybe to keep updating my diary. But amazing how small your comments go to making someone feel good after a tough and lonely few weeks. Don't feel the need to bet tonight hope it continues.

As for yourself, please do the same update your diary this is my first day on here. So will look for you and offer support. If it helps you I spent a lot of my 20s betting lost contact with friends. Never had a girlfriend. Reached a stage where I feel worthless. Please do not go down the same road as me. If your happy to talk further about your problem with gambling please feel free to write below. No worries if your not. As your email made me smile and I forgot about betting as a result.

Sam

Hi Sam! I'm glad you felt my message helped....remember we're ALL in 'the same boat'. It's true what you say.... gambling has, over the years, isolated me from friends - I've preferred to sit at home staring at a stupid laptop screen with wheels going round and me in a trance-like state! It's disgusting! Funny thing tho - about 3 weeks now gamble free and suddenly, with help of f'book as well, I've met old friends and am sorting out a social life - spending more time with family etc. from that, I have found myself being invited to various events.....YOU CAN DO THE SAME! Don't worry about not having a girlfriend....get out and about.... you THINK you're a bit of a liner but that's because GAMBLING has been your priority. You can change that. I won't comment on this 'Newby' section anymore - you and I can exchange messages on our diaries?!! Take care and keep posting and reading!! Helen. X

Hi Helen

My poison is blackjack, football, cricket and roulette. Cost me thousands. Really angry at myself recently as spend time away for work in Cambodia the kids there have nothing. I decided there when I returned to England to not bet. What did I do spend the last 3 weeks betting. So really wanna quit. Lovely to see it rather read the difference in yourself in a few weeks. You seem to be low and wanting help badly like me. Now your being invited to events well done. This weekend instead of betting on football cricket etc gonna head to bristol to see an old friend. Not seen him for 3 years. Better then betting. So hope this helps me. Plus readin your story has inspired me as well. Have a great weekend Helen

Hi Sam,

You are writing my story, once upon a time I was much the same as you. Stop gambling and try new things ( should listen to my own advice) don't be afraid to fail and watch the paranoia everybody is in the same boat. Gambling is just an awful disease we all come here about the money but none of stop to think of damage we are doing physically and mentally to ourselves.

Michael

I gamble the slots on line through boredom. When I get to the point where I feel so guilty, I ban myself from the site and am OK for a while. Then the feeling takes over again and I search for a gambling site that I am not excluded from. I really need help as I am 65 and only have my pension to live on and have used up all my savings. I have a Bipolar condition and know this doesn't help.

similar story here with me...have problems with depression and loneliness and sadness does not help when fighting this but its a vicious circle the more I gamble the more isolated and vulnerable I feel.stopping our gambling will not make all problems go away but it will help us be able cope with them better...when we gamble and the feelings after make everything in our lives seems worse.I wish you well but read the forums it gives strength others are doing it (i'm only day 2)

Hello all

To the guys kind enough to write on my diary so many thanks, It brightened up my weekend. I went to Bristol to catch up with a friend, and take my mind of betting, I read your comments on Saturday it made me smile and greatful for your support. The positives is that I had no thoughts of gambling, not much of an achievement but currently at day 3 of not betting. Too Much user - your at two 2. Please continue the good work and get to a week with me, togeather we can get through this buddy. Micahel - gonna take up Golf but until I take it up I am spending time with my mum and taking her for lunch with the money I would have wasted down the betting shop. Tubby - you only have your pension mate, please don't waste it on betting, there the only winners, keep updating your dairy and good luck mate, I will look out for you on here.

Hi Sam you are doing well and keep it up remember 1 day at a time and each day you stay gamble free you will get stronger and stronger its day 28 for me(20 of which I was in hospital) so technically about 8 days but 4 weeks since I last gambled and I am beginning to feel better about myself again.....long long way to go but I am determined to get my life back again...keep strong mate and good luck

Hi Forest

your words were very nice, four weeks and no gambling your doing great I did 7 days no betting woop whoop. then I gambled and lost 260 quid. I feel like s**t again, I went for a drink on my own, like the fat loser I am went for a bet like the fat loser I am and lost money now I am home alone like the fat loser I am, off to sleep if I have any luck I will not wake up. Clearly if my dad had any sense he would have **** on my mums t**s when he was f*****g her, because if he realised what a loser he made he would not have made me, have a good life all, hopefully I won't wake up in the morning to offer you guys any help. Gambling is killing me, and if it does at least I won't be in any pain anymore. I will be at peace.

To anybody reading the above post wrote by myself, drinking excessively and betting do not mix. 260 lost on gambling and writing this embarrassing post above should hit anybody who has a problem with gambling to stop. I hope I do stop because its a lonely life I live at present. Gonna try and give it another go. 7 days no betting, then if I get that I will aim to get to payday. 26th Sept.

hi Sam,

Thats exactly what you have got to do mate drinking and gambling is recipe for disaster and you have posted today so well done its the 1st step and trust me mate there is so much a better life without gambling....1 day at a time and you mentioned payday later this month? Put some barriers in place self exclude from places block internet gambling and if you can get someone to look after your money. Take care mate.

Hi Sam well done, first step taken, the next is easier, do what I am doing, gamblers anon, your not alone, none of us are feels great having the sense to see sense. Good luck keep reading the posts when temptation looms, that's what I am doing, it really keeps me focused on what I want to do, which everyone here knows is to STOP. Regards Lisa B.