Hi

hi Amanda, i guess you posted a thread because you want help? I'm not best placed to give advice on quitting gambling (tonight I just can't sleep for the damage I have done to myself so I am replying to all manner of posts) I am a cg, who has reached his rock bottom, took 7 years of really damaging gambling and within those seven - four years of trying to stop. I have made a decision to stop from Tuesday night when I lost far too much, all the barriers are in place - namely self-exclusion from everywhere - on-line, bookmakers. You have to decide have you had enough and reached rock bottom, are your funds so low you cannot fund this addication?. Basically where do you want to end up at night - with your partner in bed, or in a shop doorway shivering to death.? Blunt hey, but that is where all cg's will end up if they don't stop. It has to come from within, think of that scenario, walk round your local town and look for the homeless, that could be you. it could have been me, but I have stopped finally. The buzz you get from gambling needs to be obtained from somewhere else, exercise, cleaning ! anything but gambling, listen, I didn't listen to people on here and nearly lost it all. You will never win at gambling. Keep posting. - Paul

Hi Amanda , a shock post from Paul above there but worst case scenario absolutley true , compulsive gambling is progressive ,it really doesn't get better unless you change things and stop . Wev'e all tried controlling it by cutting down or lowering stakes that sort of thing but it soon goes back to how it was ,

The money really doesnt matter anymore , money if we win any is just gambling tokens because its all about getting the buzz of the next bet and " We cannot win because we cannot stop " .

Gambling also thrives on secrecy and deceit and you spend your whole life just covering up and robbing peter to pay paul .

Well done on coming here and admitting you have a problem , theres lots you can do to help you stop , blocking software or self exclusions but I'm not sure what your gambling on so I'll wait to give more advice when you tell us more of your story .

Just remember your not alone and there will be others along to offer advice when you need it .

You can stop , you just have to want to .

Take care for now and welcome to recovery .

Hi Amanda, I too am struggling with the demon, I am a c and have been so for about 8 yrs. I wouldn't even like to begin thinking how much I've spent over the yrs, the only good thing I've done is come clean to my fiancГ©e and pay ALL MY bills the day I get paid,unfortunately have relapsed recently but I'm straight back on the wagon again,good luck hope you quit and have a better future.