How Do I stop looking?

I have to say as respectfully as possible that it bugs me to hear an OH blamed for gambling activities. I get that you're both in a very difficult situation but really? If she is responsible for your struggle with gambling, does that make you responsible for her anxiety and depression? Does your gambling give her any cause at all to be anxious or depressed, in the same way that her symptoms direct whether or not you look at the odds?

Of course you're in a very difficult situation but so is she. You each need to get and accept the help you need to make things better. You for you, her for her. If anxiety and depression have been diagnosed, there'll hopefully be a medical solution and you may also find a GP helpful. But the real long term formula for addiction is boring old meetings, counselling and blocks and barriers. If you have effective software and parental barriers and self exclusion, you won't be looking at the odds.

Get help for you and encourage her to get help for her, maybe start with the helpline or net line here.

BW,

CW

I have to respectfully disagree with some of your comments Cynical wife.

I'm not blaming her for my activities as they are completely my choice and I didn't post that she is the reason for it. Specially as her issues are completely different from mine and there is no way mine have effected her either.

My point was more how to get over the constant need to check odds even though I'm confident that I will not gamble

Hello,

I think CW is giving you areas to explore and think about, not making judgements. I know the crux of your question was about stop looking at the odds........

CW quite rightly pointed out blockers and parental controls etc. On you last thread I posted a comment on exactly how I did just that which was advice that was given to me.

Be careful of checking odds. Saying you are doing it but won't ever bet leads the door open to complacency. It's basically "dry" gambling. Going through the process of gambling but without wagering money. It temps you in which is why a lot of places have demos which are heavily stacked in your favour. You say you won't gamble again, but I said that and guess what, without the correct blockers I did! Yes, it was over two months later after quitting but I did. Now with correct blockers I don't even think about gambling. In my 232 days I have been presented with opportunities to gamble and haven't as I dislike the industry.

I think the most important advice is that at Gamcare there are all the tools and advice to quit, but you have to want to use them. I'm sure you do but directly we have answered how to stop looking by limiting what you can see, but it seems to fall upon deaf ears.

Congratulations on over two weeks, but as a wise man said to me, it's a marathon and not a sprint. Forget checking odds, it leaves the door open for a relapse in your recovery.

Keep posting and do whatever you can to not gamble.

Abet

I'm 73 days today and haven't looked at a site once. The pure fact being it makes me feel physically sick. Don't get why you are looking if you really want to give up?? If you are serious then you must stop otherwise I guarantee you will creep back in to the old routine. Well done on 2 weeks btw x