On a personal note i continue to go through long periods without gambling, months etc, then for some reason i get that nasty urge and as soon as i start i just can't stop. Always thinking that the big win is round the corner and chasing all the money you've lost over the years. Ive got some barriers in place but as ever when you get the urge you find ways around and was wondering if anyone had a tips?
One major factor i believe for us compulsive gamblers is time. When you think of all the time you spend gambling, limiting this time can be beneficial. Keeping busy limits the time to spend gambling and you actually feel you are doing something worthwhile instead of wasting your life away on roulette in my case
Look forward to anyones responses and comments
Curly
Hi curly, read this forum when there is urges and never forget We cant win because we cant stop..so what is the point of gambling then? I gambled 13 years and today is 16th day gambling free..there was times i was up many times thousands pounds!! I played roulette too but the worst thing is i always ended up giving back all winning and whatever money i had available..after loosing all u know how we all feel!! So now i never forget..i cant win because i cant stop.. Keep yourself busy mate with sth, i am going gym and reading forum regularly..take care
Hi Curly,
Well done for posting here.
It’s good to know that you’re able to go for long periods without gambling, and I commend you for managing that far. It would be beneficial for you if you can try a bit more to follow the same or similar procedures that helped you to abstain for that length of time.
I’m aware that urges can be sometimes very difficult to manage, and that’s why it’s important that you place obstacles in your way to distract or stop you from gambling completely. For instance, go for a total ban at bookies and other gambling places.
In case you involve in online gambling as well, it’ll be advisable to go for an internet blocking software which will prevent you from accessing gambling sites indefinitely. To make it even harder for you to access, I suggest you let someone put in the password for you or, you close your eyes and type in anything so you won’t remember even if you tried. I think being tougher on yourself in accessing gambling in any form is a good way of stopping yourself from responding to the “urge”.
The urge will usually pass after a while, and you’ll feel your normal self again; you don’t have to respond to it.
If you can stop yourself for one day, then you can also repeat it for an unending time. You can overcome your gambling addiction, Curly. You just have to keep trying, and take it one step at a time.
My best wishes to you in your attempt to overcome your gambling addiction.
Thanks for your post once again, and pls. keep posting as often as you can.
Kind regards,
Beatrice
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