Last Chance

Welcome to the forum Jack

I hope you find it useful to support you in managing your recovery from problem gambling. You managed to stop for six months last year which is a huge achievement and should not be overlooked. Now you have decided to start again, it's good to see your are still pushing ahead with your desire to stop gambling for the benefit of your family and finances.

Please to take a look at the other sections on the forum and use the website to help navigate your journey.

All the best

Cade

Forum admin

Day 2, feeling positive, especially that this is the start of Cheltham, I will not gamble today

Day 3, I will remain gf today, didn't help yesterday that where I worked the lady who owned the house had Cheltham on in the afternoon!! But I didn't have any urges, just extremely annoyed with myself ATM that I slipped back into gambling

Day 4, finding it hard today but I will stay strong, I will be glad when Cheltham is over, I will not gamble today

Day 5, no gambling today, which is probably the first time in 15years I haven't put a bet on the gold cup, feeling positive

Hello Jack,

Wasn't a bettor on horses myself but i know that the big events are a struggle for some people so well done for not betting on that. Just wondering what blocks you have in place to help you stop? I see you have struggled with this for a while and im not sure how much im repeating the same information to you but i would also rather be at risk of doing that if it ment it could possibly help you.

Feelings change quickly and money can disappear qucikly too as a result if we are not careful. Most of the information is all over these boards but Mixer has a great post containing pretty much everything in 1. I'll link it.

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

Wish you well for the weekend, i'll be around all the best mate. Don't be afraid to ask anything from anyone here, theres a lot of good people supporting each other.

All the best.

aHi sjwsjw,

Thanks for the support and link, it was a good read, I have self excluded from all the online bookies I can think of, but I suppose there is always a new one popping up, well I got managed 6 days so far and now feeling positive, if I can stay away from the bookies tomorrow I'm sure I will get threw the week gf, one day at a time, actually quite enjoyed today makes a change from constantly checking football scores

All the best

Checking scores, odds, balances and the likes transfixed to your phone whilst blocking out the real world is no life. I have memories of watching the in-play animations, cash outs and odds change on nights out, whilst at parties. This habit not only takes our money but places strains on our mental health and relationships. It will alienate you from everything that’s important. This addiction has progressed enough within us that we’ve done significant damage to our lives. We’ve been stung but we are still standing, dust yourself off and walk the other way.

Hi Progress, very true, the hours/days/weeks/years I have wasted is unforgivable ,the sad thing is I loved football before I started betting, loved watching Liverpool play, I have backed and wanted them to lose so many times it is ridiculous, i am feeling a little proud of myself today, I have taken my family away for a couple days and unbelievably when we arrived at the flat there is a bookies a couple doors down the street, I have stayed well clear and felt so good not to waste any cash in my wallet, tomorrow I'm going to buy my children a small present each and use the money what I would of thrown away, all the best everybody. Day 7 done and dusted

Well done mate, we need to continue to appreciate every little thing because when we gamble we have nothing.

Day 8, stayed gf, found it easy today, no urges, probably because there is no footie etc on,it's weird how I used to put hundreds of pounds on bets and today shopping I was careful with money and went to a different shop to buy something which was a fiver cheaper, hopefully I can start clearing some debts this year

Hi Jack,

Well done for 8 days, keep at it. Yes, we compulsive gamblers are good at savings the pennies to lose the max gambling it seems. I also struggle with the idea of spending money on myself with regards to treats. Im getting better at handling money in the real world and seeing what i can really do with it and you will in time.

All the best.

Well done mate, more of the same over the days to come! Can also relate to what both of you have been saying about real world spendings. I’ve spent minimal money on myself over the duration of the past 4 years. I can be frugal/savvy IRL but we become different animals as soon as we log in. We start to think it’s acceptable behaviour to throw away everything we’ve worked for at the click of a few buttons, it’s not.

Day 9, found it fine today, I have been busy all day, it's my birthday today and I remember last birthday losing a grand on a cricket match and a few horse races!! Makes me wonder what was I thinking when I was clicking on the "place bet" button, I hope I will never be in that position again, thanks for the comments guys, early days but feeling good