I need to stop gambling for life

Hello Mincemaster, welcome to the forum. You are right there are many of us struggling with a gambling addiction, you are not alone in your thoughts and feelings about any part of the situation you find yourself in right now. There are steps and measures you can put into place to help you to stop, but this has to come from you.

Mixer has a great post on here that covers a lot of the "basics" with regards to blocks etc. I'll link that below;

http://www.gamcare.org.uk/forum/want-do-something-read

Staying active around here is a big help. There are many good people going/have been through the same things you are.

All the best.

Hi mate, thank you for your reply and that link. I will take a look now. I have been wondering about the impact of social media in my desire to gamble as well. The fact that so many people bet, it's become normalised. And the amount of advertising in sport is just a constant reminder of it all. I wish the government would take this problem as seriously as they should. It's as bad as drugs and alcohol, or basically any addiction. But it's silent and often cover is only blown when it's far too late. I'm at the edge of the cliff now. It's jump or walk backwards for me. I'm afraid that i can't walk back and stay back.

Deleted

Hi mate that's very good advice you've just given, thank you for that. I've been reading some posts on here from others, what is very striking is how alike we all are. I think I've spotted a trend too, we are all quite intelligent which probably contributes to our downfalls. Too smart for our own good perhaps. If only quitting gambling was based on intelligence!

Hi Minceminster,

Welcome to the forum, and well done for sharing your story here.

It seems like you’ve been struggling to do something about your gambling problem by yourself for a while but without success, and you now realise you need professional help to overcome it. That’s a step in the right direction I think, and it’s advisable to take note of the advice given here, so you’d be able to see the light at the end of the tunnel, ok?

In addition to posting and also reading from our forums for more ideas on strategies, you can also speak to one of our advisers on our free phone Helpline on: 0808 8020 133. An adviser can refer you to counselling, and nearest to where you live if you feel that would help you to stop your problematic gambling. Additionally, advisers can sign-post you to various charitable organisations if that would help you to overcome your gambling problem. There’s no need to suffer in isolation; help is readily availabe here at Gamcare.

Our lines are open 7 days in a week, and from 8.00am to midnight.

I wish you all the best in your journey to recovery, and thanks again for your posts.

Regards,

Beatrice

I'm new here too but it was important for me to see just how many of us are in the same boat. It wasn't just run after run of bad luck for me, with hope around the corner. This is something that happens to a lot of people. It's not just me being weak or stupid, it is something that is built in to the very nature of gambling and how our brains work.

I sat down and worked out just how long it would take for me to pay off my debts. It was a long time, but not unmanageable, and a hell of a lot shorter than the ten years of wages I have lost to gambling. That gave me the first solid, real hope I've had for years. It feels very different to the 'what if?' hope of winning it all back.

Hi minceminster just wanted to drop by and wish you well in your recovery, I don’t know much to give a great deal of advice as still very early days for me but the advice from everyone is great, definitely put as many blocks in place you can never overdo that and read watch you tube videos on stopping gambling it helps to understand how on earth we brought ourselves to this mess. Ppls diaries are brilliant you can learn so much and although I’d never wish this nasty addiction on anyone, it comforts to know your not on your own dealing with it. Keep posting too. Bestest wishes Lulu x

ekth.

Lg wrote:

I'm new here too but it was important for me to see just how many of us are in the same boat. It wasn't just run after run of bad luck for me, with hope around the corner. This is something that happens to a lot of people. It's not just me being weak or stupid, it is something that is built in to the very nature of gambling and how our brains work.

I sat down and worked out just how long it would take for me to pay off my debts. It was a long time, but not unmanageable, and a hell of a lot shorter than the ten years of wages I have lost to gambling. That gave me the first solid, real hope I've had for years. It feels very different to the 'what if?' hope of winning it all back.

hi there. I'm on my 9th day without gambling at all. Since my first post I have read posts on this forum every day so I don't forget the consequences of betting. I am currently looking for ways to make sure I don't fall back into betting. Over the weekend I made a point of having a drink and making sure i don't give into temptation. I want to normalise not betting. I don't want to get 6 months down the line then all of a sudden something happens that I can't deal with. Drink is something that has caught me out before, probably the same thing as what happens with people trying to quit smoking.

Lulubobs1966 wrote:

Hi minceminster just wanted to drop by and wish you well in your recovery, I don’t know much to give a great deal of advice as still very early days for me but the advice from everyone is great, definitely put as many blocks in place you can never overdo that and read watch you tube videos on stopping gambling it helps to understand how on earth we brought ourselves to this mess. Ppls diaries are brilliant you can learn so much and although I’d never wish this nasty addiction on anyone, it comforts to know your not on your own dealing with it. Keep posting too. Bestest wishes Lulu x

hi there, thanks for getting in touch. I have had my problem for many years. I've known for a long time that I have a problem. I've quit on several occasions for over a year and this allowed me to buy a house for example, but I've always ended up back in the bookies. I've sailed close to the wind so many times and have always managed to dig my way out, but I know that sooner or later, if I keep doing it, there won't be a way out and the consequences will be devestating for me, but more importantly my family. I've been reading posts from other people and I am lucky in the sense that I have never really been addicted to slots or machines. And due to the fact that I can't open any online accounts, it's likely to stay that way. It's the shops that are my weakness. I was wondering the other day if there is a "one size fits all" universally accepted self exclusion form that can be handed in to all shops. Do you know wether this exists?

hi

Forum admin wrote:

Hi Minceminster,

Welcome to the forum, and well done for sharing your story here.

It seems like you’ve been struggling to do something about your gambling problem by yourself for a while but without success, and you now realise you need professional help to overcome it. That’s a step in the right direction I think, and it’s advisable to take note of the advice given here, so you’d be able to see the light at the end of the tunnel, ok?

In addition to posting and also reading from our forums for more ideas on strategies, you can also speak to one of our advisers on our free phone Helpline on: 0808 8020 133. An adviser can refer you to counselling, and nearest to where you live if you feel that would help you to stop your problematic gambling. Additionally, advisers can sign-post you to various charitable organisations if that would help you to overcome your gambling problem. There’s no need to suffer in isolation; help is readily availabe here at Gamcare.

Our lines are open 7 days in a week, and from 8.00am to midnight.

I wish you all the best in your journey to recovery, and thanks again for your posts.

Regards,

Beatrice

hi there. Thanks for your advice. I have went 9 days now without betting. It feels good and I am on the forum everyday just reading what everyone else is saying. It's good to know that I am not the only one who has this common problem, even though I wish nobody had it. Do you know if there is a universal self exclusion form which I could download? I would literally fill out dozens of them and hand them into any bookmakers I can. Having self excluded from several already, it can be quite embarrassing because the cashiers seem to take forever to find the forms and when they do, they make you wait forever whilst they check them. All this whilst people I know are there in the shop. I think most people with gambling problems eventually become quite withdrawn and inward whilst they bet. I personally just wanted to be left alone and would never want to speak with anyone at all.

Hi Mincemaster, no time to chat but you need:

MOSES 0800 294 2060 which is multi operator bookies exclusion.

Congrats on your 9 days.

People in a GA room may start as strangers but they are ones that completely get it. Stopping for life takes more than self exclusion but it can be done - ODAAT

Hi there, thank you for that!! Much appreciated.

Mincemaster wrote: Yes I think there is Mincemaster best bet is to ask the question in the recovery diaries and someone will know the details to give you Lulu

[quote=Lulubobs1966]

Hi minceminster just wanted to drop by and wish you well in your recovery, I don’t know much to give a great deal of advice as still very early days for me but the advice from everyone is great, definitely put as many blocks in place you can never overdo that and read watch you tube videos on stopping gambling it helps to understand how on earth we brought ourselves to this mess. Ppls diaries are brilliant you can learn so much and although I’d never wish this nasty addiction on anyone, it comforts to know your not on your own dealing with it. Keep posting too. Bestest wishes Lulu x

hi there, thanks for getting in touch. I have had my problem for many years. I've known for a long time that I have a problem. I've quit on several occasions for over a year and this allowed me to buy a house for example, but I've always ended up back in the bookies. I've sailed close to the wind so many times and have always managed to dig my way out, but I know that sooner or later, if I keep doing it, there won't be a way out and the consequences will be devestating for me, but more importantly my family. I've been reading posts from other people and I am lucky in the sense that I have never really been addicted to slots or machines. And due to the fact that I can't open any online accounts, it's likely to stay that way. It's the shops that are my weakness. I was wondering the other day if there is a "one size fits all" universally accepted self exclusion form that can be handed in to all shops. Do you know wether this exists?

Quick update. I haven't had a bet since 16th March. I have felt a bit down since that time as I have been trying to get my head right. Today I feel a lot better. I have realised that social media needs to be avoided. I am spending more time with family and already feel better financially. I have spent a lot of time reading things on this site. I want to use the stories of a constant reminder of the place I never want to find myself ever again. I have quit many times in the past for long periods, but each time, the consequences became a distant memory, to the point where I had forgotten the reality and allowed myself to be sucked back in. I have realised I have everything in life, mixed with the ability to enhance it. I also know I have the ability to ruin it. Enhancing will come naturally, the hard part is making sure I don't ruin it.