It's just not working for me.

Sorry to hear it but it's the same old that's not working. Was looking at some of your earlier posts and you seem to have a lot going on. You know that gambling's not the answer (sooner or later you'll end up in the trouble that you avoided earlier in the year) but the only person who can get help for you is you. The only person who can change your life is you. Doing nothing about a bad situation is an effective choice in itself.

Hard as it is, action's required to make those changes in your life. Taking away the gambling is a vital start, but you need to address what else is wrong. Think what you could do to make things better and to make you better and how you could do it (including meetings!!) Then start to make things better, for you, one step at a time, over long term. Things change if things change.

Wish you well,

CW

Cw is right.

I tried so many times to stop. It never worked and got progressively worse. Blocks slowed it down, but I still wanted to gamble and either found a way, or got angry because I could not.

Gambling is an addiction, there is often a deeper cause behind addiction. You need to explore this, no matter how trivial or deep it may be. It is often a trauma or unhappy experience. Acceptance of this and dealing with it will help you move on with you life and stop the need to punish yourself with gambling.

A counsellor will bring this out.

I found my reason, and I am dealing with it. Since the day of realisation I have not gambled or had the slightest inclination to gamble.

You can do it too.....good luck

Thank you ,yes I know there is a deeper reason still trying to work that one out but ifor I can stop gambling the information can concentrate on what is really wrong , I don't even enjoy gambling anymore that's what gets me.

Hi liggypops

There will be deeper reasons so are you ready to bare your soul to a counsellor? You need to see the doctor and you need then to talk things through. My view is that you are not happy in life and that causes gambling in many people

I had been trying to self destruct. I had given up. I was functioning on certain levels only. Im saying that things like depression have varying levels and its complex. An emptiness inside will cause gambling because you think you need that fix that nothing elses can provide. Its distorted thinking because plenty of things in life can provide you with a reason and enjoyment.

You could posssibly be a stress gambler. Its no fun as far as I am concerned. Yes it is linked to a flow of dopamine round the blood stream but you are seeking your "highs" in completely the wrong way.

This may sound blunt but I have to say they are not blocks. You dont have blocks if you can easily dodge around them. Handing away your gadgets is a block but can you handle that???...it seems not. Proper blocking software I have been told does work but I would prefer you are also monitored. You are deluding yourself that blocks are in place when the reality is that its in your home and there seem no problems in casually resuming.

People close monitoring you is a block. I see quite a few that think they can just handle it alone when they have been gambling online .

I want to help you. You have to step things up now or you will be gambling again and again.

Its "not working for you" because you havent treated it with the seriousness it deserves. Sorry but I want you to be thinking about this and ultimately I want money in your pocket and not wasted in some fools gold scheme online

Best wishes from everyone on the forum

Thank you for your bluntness,I rather some one be honest than fluffy unicorn rubbish , I have told my partner that I have relapsed and he has now put PROPER blocks on things and is going to me cash only ( I have no desire for betting drops, casinos ect,just online slots ).... I am going to do this .

The depression part is more tricky,I don't actually feel or think I'm depressed but do think there is a more deep rooted problem then gambling only trouble is it honestly don't know what. I haven't gambled for a week now and I haven't missed it at all,when I played for the last time last Monday night ,I didn't even enjoy it just stared at the screen .

Hi

Thats good as your partner can be an invaluable help to you. Im just saying that there are usually issues within the soul when you take the time to discuss them....even if its boredom...how can you be that bored when there are things to do?

You will do this...I promise you. You are on the forum and are not ignoring the problem. We have all been there. I spent 10 months on the forum with no real blocks....Part of all my excuses was the embarrassment of giving details.

I then realised that this was no issue compared with the suicidal lows and financial losses I had experienced.

keep talking it through with us, your partner and any counsellor.

Talk to me about the slots and I will tell you the real odds you have been facing. A random number generator where the top prize has odds of hundreds or thousands to one. You know this though because the reality is that you have played spin after spin of losing combinations. the features cloud the reality in quite devious ways actually.They play us off with false or small "wins" but you know that was never enough and you know it never went as you may have hoped.

You know it was never enough and possibly that wasnt the reason you were really playing anyway. Its a complex addiction and that feeling in the body was driving you to destruction. It was never rational....no gambling is because it twists our minds that there is money to be made and fun to be had. I focus on the results of which there is no denying...thousands down and chasing just made it much worse.

You certainly wont be missing anything when your mind heals

Best thing to do is talk it through and see if you can get your feelings out as to why.

Gambling is not for me. I ignored the odds for escape. I could never win because I could never stop.

Being gamble free is a great feeling and a normal feeling as I get on with life

Best wishes from everyone on the forum

Hi liggypops , I'm too struggling like yourself with online slots, lost my mum 2 years ago who I looked after for years when my dad died , that's when I started gambling more than I used to.i have a gorgeous wife and 3 kids who I adore and keep me going , but they don't know about my gambling.She works in the day I work on a evening and that's were i struggle in the the day , we're my time used to be helping my mum.feel so lonely most of the time and once again gambled today after a few days off thinking I can do this .just don't know what to do.hope it all works out for you .

Thanks joy diverse, comojokolo I know exactly how you feel,the one piece of advice I can give you is please tell your wife the truth..I know it's not easy but it was the best thing I ever did,he was angry at first but after we sat down and talked it was like a huge weight had been lifted , she might even be able to help you , good luck on your journey .

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Well it has been 2 weeks since I have gambled , think something inside snapped and just didn't want to gamble anymore , not taking it for granted though, one step at a time.

Well done, stay strong and positive x

Hi just thought I would say Hi hope all is well x

Thanks, yes I'm still here not gambled so far,not been on due to heavy work load,at least it takes my mind off gambling.