Hi. I have joined gamcare today as I have tried quiting gambling for the last few years. Most I have not gambled is 32 days in 8 years. Ever since I got a smart phone. It was easy access and a bit of fun but just got worse and worse. The wife thinks I have not gambled for 2 years but that lasted 32 days and the most since then has been 10 days. I hide it well. But now I really want to stop but sometimes the urge is too much. I can pick up my phone and have a bet on and not even know it. I self exclude then join other websites. I love it when I win but I hate it as well. Sneaking around and lying and trying to win back money I lost. Never got gambling off my mind. Losing hundreds in seconds... I need to stop. I need to stop lying to my wife and family. And my wife and I have been trying for a baby since August 2013 with no luck. I said to god one day ( not something I really believe) I don't deserve a baby till I stop gambling and now. I am convinced that I am being held to that. 1 and a half years and now luck. This is why I am convinced someone listened to me up there. Yeah I know it sounds crazy. Hopefully this is it now. No more gambling....
Welcome to recovery Marc 🙂
You need to get a blocker for that phone, quick sharp & if it doesn't support one, change it for one that does! You have to break your Time-Money-Location triangle as removing 1 takes away the ability to gamble!
This is an amazing place for support but you have seen that quitting with willpower alone is almost impossible! I don't think you should think you are being punished with regards to having a baby but I'm sure stress can affect your workings & sneaking around gambling sure is stressful! In order to move forwards with recovery, you need to draw a line under the money you have lost...It is gone & chasing it will only lead to more losses!
There is lots of great advice on here so have a look round & see what works best for you! You can do this - ODAAT
Thanks ODAAT I am changing my life today. My phone supports the blockers I just need to find the correct one. I am drawn a line under losses. The wife doesn't know but I am confident this time because as they say. It's a mugs game. I know I am happier for the short periods that I haven't gambled. Thanks for your support
So day 1 of my online diary. I am going to try compete this dail. Mainly for myself. If you read then thanks.
Day 1 I feel optimistic. Happy, confident. Still woke up and the first thing I done was log into the betting website. But didn't put money in.
That's exactly the sort of habit you need to train out of yourself otherwise you could log on by mistake in a different mood & find yourself back to day one! Come on here instead, it's much safer 🙂
Yeah I am going to stop going on the phone in the morning. So the temptation is not there.
Hi butler... I don't want to sound harsh but you should not have logged onto that site first thing this morning. That is a really slippery slope. If you're serious you need to self exclude from every account you have and email all the others to block you from opening an account. If you take that step then you have committed to not gambling if you don't take that step then it is because deep down you still want to have the option open to place a bet. It really is a brave step to take and I can remember it took me a lot of unneeded and extra losses before I excluded from all accounts and possible future accounts... it was a realisation after my first GA meeting that I am never going to win my money back and that gambling has to end. It was a stone cold realisation. At that point I knew I would never need an online betting account again. Take the step my friend! Best of luck for everything in the future!
Hi Marc
good to see you moving in the right direction so quickly, today you believe in yourself, trying to beat this alone is difficult but with help and advice from here it's more than doable believe me, keep the faith my friend....onwards and upwards Ginger.
Initially in my first few days gamble free i found myself watching football on the box and going on my phone checking prices as the games developed basically torturing myself. I can now watch a game of football and not care who scores first or scream at the telly as the team ive backed get beat,i can enjoy for what it is.
Youve experienced gamble free time before so jump back on the wagon and give yourself a break and continue to build defences.
Stay strong
Just read the other posts and there is obviously other ways that work for people so I take that on board as well. I'm still early in my recovery and I found totally ending any chance was better for me. So it's one option I guess is what I'm saying. Good luck as said before!
Thanks guys.. I have self excluded for all the major websites previously when I tried to stop. Knowing I probably was 100% committed. I would then find another website and open one up. The difficulty is the TV adverts. It's constant these days. And like dez1 said I watch the football and want to know the odds for everything. I look forward to the day I am watching the game without worrying about the odds. I will enjoy it more even if we get beat lol... Thanks again guys.
Day 2 and I have emailed to be self excluded to my active gambling websites. Last night when the footy was on it really wanted to check odds but I resisted. I did check some scores because I like to know who is doing well. I hope I can continue doing that without thinking BET.. Well off to work in go.
Still day 2
Getting fidgety as there is footy on again tonight. So decided to come on here instead of getting odds.. :-s Think I will hide my phone the rest of tonight.
Perhaps the sensible thing would be to not watch the football. Do you have blocking software on your phone?
Hi butler....
You know i have a 8.99 samsumg payg phone, i can ring ppl and except calls and play 1 silly game on it lol
I survied before smartphones i dont need one now.....1 temptation took away, but it will take commitment.
Regards Jay.
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