FOBT no more!!

Hi Promise,

I think that post of yours could have been written about me for i was more or less the same,the soul destroying life taking FOBT,s.

I too gambled for 25 yrs with the last 5 or so being very out of control.I made a decision to stop on 28/01/06 and went to GA.I met some good people there and have made a few good friends but what i,m saying is i stopped all forms of gambling for a good 19 months and have only dabbled slightly with one big blowout since.

I think your right when you say once the compulsion is there it will always be there and i agree about being on our guards,i sort of liken it to someone who has to take life long medication for say diabetes,as long as you do the right thing you can live a normal life and this is what i tend to do these days.

I wont say its easy i too tried to stop many times and went a full 2 yrs without gambling in my twenties but really i put this down to working abroad and gambling just doesnt have the same appeal in a holiday atmosphere etc.

I have learnt a lot about myself in these last few years,i dont consider myself a failure,i,m actually grateful for my gambling addiction for its made me as strong as i am today,i try not to get down (not easy that one) and yes i miss the buzz of gamblng (no point lieing) but i take each day as it comes and i,ve got to admit a life without gambling seems to work out not too bad.

i wish you well for the future,

"" A NEW LIFE ""

Thanks for your reply A NEW LIFE. I have struggled for about 6 years now to try and stop the madness and I worked recently that 80% of my annual salary was going to the bookies year after year. I work really hard for my money and the thought of it has led to me becoming depressed and being off work, but like a fool I went backwards and forwards to these places over the last 5 weeks and each time I would say its my last. I am now coming to terms that the money is gone and there is no way i am going to get it back and that if i continue the way I was I would lose alot more so I stopped...that lasted for 2 weeks and then last week I did it again. It just got to the stage where i knew I had to take another step and by joining this forum I beleive I have as before I would just read the posts and try and get inspiration from them but joining and contributing (what little I can) has moved me just that small step closer to being free from gambling. All I need to do now is to stop thinking I am a loser and build up my self esteem and confidence which will tae some time as I have really been beating myself up over the last few years and thats just made it feel worse....need to stop doing that as whats happened is now in the past....alot easier said then done but all can do is keep trying and moving forward.

Promise.

Hi Promise

Nice to meet you in chat yesterday. I too will be popping in regularly because it is nice to share feelings with someone not judgemental. We all have the same goal in sight and this makes it easier to stay focused.

Andrea

Hi Promise. I just wanted to say welcome on your thread. It was good to meet you in chat yesterday, and I hope that you will be coming back as often as you can. Like I said yesterday, we all get there at our own pace, but you seem determined this time, and I believe that you can do this. You've got a lot of people here who are willing to share this journey with you, so just keep in mind that you are not alone. 🙂

Love, Anna

Andrea, Anna..thanks for your replies.

Andrea, how can I be judgemental I'm in a similar place you are so if I was to make any judgement on you that would make it a joke really! We are in a similar position, maybe not in all areas but definately on the one goal we have which is to stop gambling for good....all you have to remember is that we will succeed, as Anna said at our own pace 🙂

I have failed many times but this time I want to be on guard and aware that 1 bet is too many as before after short periods of abstaining and beginning to feel comfortable with life again I always made the mistake of thinking I could have a gamble and control it...what I've learned from reading alot of the posts here this time is that its not YOU that controls its the gambling that controls YOU...the buzz of winning the hurt of losing..we've all been there so all I can say is that no matter how bad finances are gambling to get there is not the answer as it will take everything and more. I am on Day 7 now after going 14 days and thinking I could control the gambling by having 1 more spin of the wheel....couldn't do it so here I am again.

Andrea, beleive in yourself that you can do it...there isn't a magic cure the only cure is abstaining. Hope to catch you in chat one day again, you too Anna.

I'll try and keep you all updated as best as I can.

Promise.

I started the above thread in May 2008. Over the last 7 years the longest I managed to stop for was a year. I have still continued playing the FOBT's on and off since then. I am at a loss. I self exclude and when i walk in again a few days/weeks later they don't seem bothered. The only way anyone can stop is just staying away from those awful places which are full of people like us...head down wanting to walk away but unable to do so everytime and only leaving when they have nothing left.I need to stop as I will not hav any income after this month as I will have no job anymore...I am still a compulsive gambler and tomorrow is Day 1 for me again.

Wellcome back.

I gambled for 22 years and only 6 weeks or so ago admitted I was a compulsive gambler, only once I accepted this have I been able to move forward with my life.

Our history is very similar I think.

I wish you well.