Gamstop success

It’s a start but you are missing the big issue here . You only didn’t gamble because you couldn’t accsss it. If you could I’m sure you would have done . I believe the secret to conquering this is to become a non gambler , not a gambler who isn’t gambling . That’s a big change from within and something that takes weeks and months to achieve . It’s distancing yourself from the whole gambling process . The habit , the ritual , the continuous cycle . For me it was about seeing there is so much positive things that come from stopping . Relationships are better , you are not hiding anything . You will always have money so the need to gamble leaves you . Well done for starting to stop again and I hope you understand where I am coming from with my comments . You can do this , anyone can do this even me . You can’t rely on blocks alone and you can’t rely on will power alone . You need both as there will be times when you won’t have the blocks in place or will get caught unawares . If you want to ask anything or need any support just ask we are all in the same position . This is a strange kind of club where there is no jealousy and no one wants anyone to fail . We all want people like yourself , complete strangers to thrive and beat this so know that you are not alone

Jo thats great news,i dont want to be the big bad cloud but we all know there are ways round this if we want to,a ton more sites that arnt included,just be careful,get that cash out of the bank asap on payday,thats what im planning,going to give my laptop to eldest on thursday and i dont want it back till saturday morning,all bills paid and cash removed.Keep that chin up and remember this feeling of not being able to gamble.We work hard for our money now lets do what we are supposed to do.

Do you have a diary?

Stay Strong

Lib

Hi and thanks for your comment.

I am a gambler yes, through the online sites. Not being able to access the sites is a massive relief for me. Yes i will try and access other sites when i have a blip but I have taken other precautions such as writing a plan for payday - this means withdraw all cash, never have a penny in a bank account anywhere (my last relapse was pay by phone which i have now blocked too).

I have been a gambler for 3 years yet have never stepped into a bookies in that time or felt the need to hit a real casino, fortunately for me this does not appeal to me. Whats to say I wont? I'm too much of a homely creature and have a huuuuge personal space 🙂

I have started to stop loads of times but never registered with Gamstop before so that was the reason for my post today. The step I took yesterday will definitely distance myself from the whole gambling process, and like I said in my post I will be able to enjoy my life without making excuses not to socialise. I will meet my friends, enjoy my home, garden, work without the temptation that i can log in to an online casino. Payday is tomorrow and I know i cant do it, that is a massive start for me.

I will want a quick fix and feel the need to gamble, I dont deny that but i am going to find it much harder now I have registered with Gamstop. I have the willpower and blocks which you said I cant rely on so please let me know if you have any advice on other steps I need to take.

Thanks

Hi Lib!

Yes i know there are ways and its all about the CASH, cash we love cash, its more real too! Another good tip is to get a new debit card, when it arrives get someone to scratch off the 3 digit cvc number off the back, a black marker didnt work for me when i shone it up to the light i saw it!

Then you cant use it online.

I pay things by bank transfer ie council tax, mortgage, electric and gas so i dont need my card for bills, is this something you can do?

So when i say its payday tomorrow its actually board day, but still money - a couple of hundred which i know i could easlily lose in a flash. It will be the little test i need before real payday. If i am sat at home tomorrow at 5.30pm with a cash in my purse thats me winning! Day by day we will get there.

No i dont have a diary - is it online on here?

Hope you are ok

Jo

Just make sure you get that cash 🙂

If you go to the front menu and scroll down there's a diary section,you can start a recovery diary very similar to this new members section,i find it helpful as you dont have to talk to anyone but you can keep it as a journal especially on those bad days when you just want to rant,or you can ask questions,lots of others some who have been here years who will support good or bad,i use it to say the things i may not want to say to my family but need to get it out it also just gives you somewhere to log your recovery and sometimes it helps to look how bad it was when you joined to how well you doing now,sometimes we forget how far we've come when we've had a bad day.

I'm doing ok today still waiting for my eldest to come home so dread is sitting in my stomach but once the conversation is had then i can deal with the rest of the fall out.

Stay Strong

Lib

I found the diaries very important not only reading but writing down it was cathartic . You asked what you need other than blocks and willpower ? You have to turn a page in your head and try and put it behind you . If you have time money and opportunity together you are more likely to gamble . Remove one out of the three and you won’t . Like you said , spend time with friends clutch into anything those first few weeks . Then it simply becomes habit not to gamble . One payday becomes four five and six before you know it

hi jo99

I did comment on snow@ball yesterday, We all wish you well but I feel both you and snowball are relying on willpower alone at the moment, there does not appear to be enough blocks in place, For example, what if snow@girl decided not to give her laptop to her son, which in itself requires willpower, then there is nothing stopping the gambling as there are no financial blocks in place. I believe willpower and financial blocks need to work together in beating this addiction. But I hope things work out for you. All the best.

Im with you hear im on thirty days gf and i have blocks in place like i multiselfexcluding from bookies and im reg with gamstop they certainly help

Hi green flash thanks for your comment. You mention financial blocks but haven’t explained or given an example of what you mean. Other than what I am doing already regarding my pay day plan which means wiping my bank account, and dealing with cash what other things do you suggest? I have the will power right now and have already prepared myself For tomorrow do you mean what if the will power goes? If so give me some tips!

congrats christer on 30 days gamble free period it’s such an achievement I hope that snowball aane and i will be able to say the same next month. maybe you could give us some advice on how you got there. Thanks

all in all if someone has read this, registered with gamstop and saved just a tenner I’ll be happy I’d never heard of it!

Hi jo99 type 'mixer' in the search bar above. He has written in detail about quitting gambling and gives sensible, great advice. I used it to put my own plan in place. I know others regard it highly too. I hope it helps.

All the best

To be fair ive relapsed few times bus most important thing is you start again. Ive got to thirty three cause i know i cant gamle with my two blocks gamstop and bookie one i i guess i just keep more active and spend more time with fam

Jo999 I'm totally with you mate. GAMSTOP was an absolute game changer for me because for me it was really only about the online slots , never been massive on sports betting , bandits in pubs or FOBTs. Its been the single most beneficial thing Ive done and I know the other posters have rightly mentioned you need will power as well which is very true but for me especially in the earlier days when you are missing your favourite slot like an old friend (mine was called A valon) thats when you are likely to wobble and thats when GAMSTOP is a life saver because you physically cant do it.

keep going

How is everyone doing?

My post today is a positive one. I have had a fantastic weekend gamble free and feel so much happier and relaxed.

Thank goodness for gamstop. I havent tried to open any other accounts or log into old ones, simply because I cant be bothered! I have realised that time is precious, nobody needs to waste theirs on chasing that win only for it not to be big enough, then lose it. Hours i have spent on online slots, its not even about the money anymore, thats gone. The fact I have wasted so many weekends, eveinings, sleepless nights when I could have been doing something else. I used to hide it from my son, I got anxious if i heard him come in or downstairs from his room and even angry when he came to sit with me - having to quickly close the site i was on. I guarantee it was always at the moment the bonus, free spins or whatever else the thieves were offering to make it more enticing.

I'm ashamed really, what a stupid grown woman I have been.

I have been the old me today, totally relaxed and content. I feel i can move on now. I know its early days but i feel so very positive.

Gamstop has truly helped, i have withdrawn all my cash and there is no way i can gamble even if i wanted to!

Keep going everyone we really should be very proud of ourselves and look forward to the future. xxx