01-05-2015 To day is the first day of the rest of my life i have tried so many times before and think i have a grip on my gambling how very wrong i am. The beast is always lurking deep within me and i think the odd little bet wont hurt but it does, it is the first of a avalanche of small bets. but you can quit as it a few quid here a few quid there you lose, very easy to hide to your spouse. But then you win and win again and your stake increases and you have a few good days even a week or two and your addiction is back in full flow. Thing is win or lose it affects your sleep, you win you wonder what else you can bet on, you lose and you worry how much you have lost and think how it is possible to win it back but you know its to much to win and you feel so sorry for yourself. But you have caused this problem the people around you wife, kids and family members you should feel sorry for. Im hoping that doing a dairy of my day to day struggle with my addiction may help. When i think its under control and a small bet wont hurt im going to read this and hoping that it makes me think STOP you have been here so many times before. Im now 34 and have been through this since i was a young kid. I have a wife and a child on the way so i want a great life for us all. I know its not going to be easy and people around me like to bet but im great at telling people the downsides of gambling but dont listen to myself. Note to self practice what you preach gambling has one winner and it certainly isnt me or you. Today betting is the last thing i wanna do so today is a easy day not to have a bet, but the first day after a lose is always the easiest. I still have cash that i could bet with to try and win my money back but if i win i will bet again and lose it. Thats it for today
I know exactly what you mean when it comes to affecting sleep, All I saw was a roulette wheel after my big loss. Also the most anxious I had ever felt before.
I thing the diary will help, and focusing on your wife and soon being a parent will also...these are the precious things in life and some people are not so lucky to have such things.
All the best with the recovery, I will follow your progress.
Thank you jt002
Hi Mr Hearn,
Welcome to the forum, and well done for your post.
It seems like you’ve been struggling with your gambling problem for a number of years, and somehow, believed you can be able to stop it by yourself. Unfortunately, that hasn’t happened yet, but hopefully, you found the forum, and disclosed your story to all for more support.
I would like to make you aware that gambling problem is very difficult to try and stop it by yourself; most people need professional help to do that.
I hope that by disclosing your story at the forum, you feel relieved, and that the impact of your gambling problem on you is also lessened. As the saying goes: “problem shared, is problem halved”, and as such you have given yourself the opportunity to receive more advice and encouragement from fellow forum members too.
I’ll advise you to be patient with yourself, and take it one step at a time. Also, try and stick to the advice given here on strategies and boundaries, and hopefully, you’ll begin to notice the positive change in your situation.
I also agree with you that you seriously want to stop gambling as you look forward to settling down and having a family. Your money would be better served by using it on yourself, family and friends than offering it to the betting machines.
Thus it is advisable at this point in time, to let go of all your losses, to focus on your recovery, and to look forward to a gamble free future. You can do it Mr Hearn!
Maybe you’ll like to contact our free phone Helpline on: 0808 8020 133, and speak to one of our advisers. An adviser would be able to refer you for 12 sessions of free counselling if you think that would help you to overcome your gambling problem.
I wish you well in your efforts to overcome your problematic gambling, and pls. keep posting.
Kind regards,
Beatrice
Thank you Beatrice i have already filled in a form and sent it back to have those counselling sessions. Im hoping with the sessions and help at home and on here that i can put away my gremlins and look forward to a bet free life which will be alot happy for us all.
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