first step of recovery....asking for help

In short you have to stop gambling right now !!!

best wishes

thanks for the comment. I understand that I need to stop right now. but it's not always that easy. I have spent weeks not gambling and then I end up caving in as they say. I need help and that's what I'm trying to do

Hi shyeyes, very helpful comment there from Johnny, not 🙁

Welcome to the forum...If you give a bit more about yourself & your gambling, people will be able to tailor advice specific to your needs but if you are starting from nothing probs best to give the helpline a call.

Stopping is the easy bit, it’s staying stopped that I needed help from other people to do - ODAAT

The best 1st step of recovery is to SELF EXCLUDE, you need to ARREST your addiction, don't let it out ... self exclude first, then come here and discus what to do, but without self exclusion it won't be effective, this is the very 1st step you must take before anything else comes to mind.

ODAAT wrote:

Hi shyeyes, very helpful comment there from Johnny, not 🙁

Welcome to the forum...If you give a bit more about yourself & your gambling, people will be able to tailor advice specific to your needs but if you are starting from nothing probs best to give the helpline a call.

Stopping is the easy bit, it’s staying stopped that I needed help from other people to do - ODAAT

If you self exclude you would stay stopped, and if you can self-exclude yourself on a permanent basis already from all the possible websites you might go to, there isn't any alternative, I'm talking from my own SUCCESSFUL experience.

You've taking the right step by coming here. I'm newish too but my first post I had no replies and felt like no-one cared so why should I and carried on.now I make a point if saying hi to newbies.
I can't give much advice I'm still early in my journey but hoping I too can stop this merry go round

Type in gamstop in google and join it for minimum of five years, that's the bed start I can suggest

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I self excluded last May after a few years of online CG. It has stopped my problem dead in its tracks and capped my losses which I'm now able to manage slowly but surely. If you are struggling with online gambling then I urge you to do this. I wish you all the best.

thank you for all your comments. I have self excluded. but when I don't have support from people or I have people that basically tell you to just stop doesn't help me very much. it's easy to just stop but it's staying stopped and trying to move on with life. there is so many temptations around and it's not that easy to just forget about it all.

It would be helpful if you explain what type of gambling you do.

Self exclusion with Gamstop may not be a useful solution if say it’s scratch cards you are addicted to.

Basically, people need a mix of practical & emotional support and some help comes into both categories.

The practical essential steps include but are not limited to;

Self exclusion with gamstop

Self exclusion in bookmakers

Handing over control of you finances.

Counselling

Step change for debts

Gamblers anonymous meetings.

You may think it’s unhelpful to say just stop, but people generally can’t tackle all their other issues, relationship problems etc until they have stopped.

it's online gambling.

I have the issue with online slots too and before I found this site I really thought it was just me.
Firstly I think although it's tough you need to accept the lost money and be ready to move on. (That's the bit I struggled with and what kept me going back)
Use gamstop, post here, self exclude from everywhere you can.
Start a diary and set your own goals.
Mine was 1 week goal and to save enough money to get my kids stocking fillers. I done that.
Now I'm aiming for 2 weeks and still have ex amount in my bank.
Set your own goals that are achievable to you.
Don't be afraid to write about every milestone you cross regardless how small it seems.were all taking baby steps here.

shyeyes49 wrote: it's online gambling.

Then have you self excluded using gamstop or just self excluded through individual sites ?

Once you have registered with gamstop - most of the online temptation is out of reach

I have an app on my phone that no longer allows me to access sites that are classed as gambling