Hi

Nice thing using your words,

Lost in a spiral of self destruction in pain and fear over whelming me.

That was me and I felt I would be teh last person on this planet who would be abe to stop my gambling.

Today gambling is the last thing I want to do in my life.

Once we reach rock bottom the only way to go is up.

Give recovery you best effort you deserve it.

Love and peace to every one.

Dave L

AKA Dave of Beckenham

I can absolutely identify with your feelings of anxiety and self loathing. The good news is it will get better if you apply yourself to getting over this gambling addiction.

I would be paid on the 27th and pay all of the immediate bills like rent utilities etc but then waste the rest on gambling, usually on the same night I was paid. The rest of the months gambling would be funded by the overdraft and credit cards or loans.

Reaching out to gamcare was instrumental in me recovering. I would encourage you to have phone sessions with one of their councillors.

Also put some blocks on to prevent your gambling.  

Keep us posted 

heres some tips welcome to the forum.... adam 

Number 1:

GET BLOCKS IN PLACE

Gamstop for online

Moses for local bookies

And Sense for uk casinos

It’s essential to do them all (you may say i only ever gamble online, or i only ever gamble in bookies) but down the line when you want to scratch that gambling itch or are impulsive like myself, Online, bookies and casinos become tempting.

Number 2:

When you get paid, pay all bills then transfer rest to a loved one for safe keeping.  Then it’s not in ur account waiting for the moment ur tempted by gambling its safe and sound and if you do really need it it’s there (either that or start to pay off highest interest debt each month (this will help massively), 

I transfer my money to my dad and have saved a lot over the years.

I top up my sainsburys card each month when i get paid for food shopping.

Number 3:

Limit the damage you can do with one visit to town:

The number of times in the past i’ve visited a cash machine for the bookies until i can’t get any more cash out!!!! Let’s save that!!!!

 U can limit cash withdrawals (just ask your bank)

You can not take your cards out (more difficult)

You can just take cash then all you can lose is that cash.

There is two step verification that your partner or parents can authorise your payments. (i’ve heard this is great)

Number 4:

With this new life away from gambling you will no doubt try to life a new healthy lifestyle (one step at a time) i found that drinking was clouding my judgement and making me gamble, smoking was inhibiting my breathing, drugs id also done in the past caused my mental well being to go down and these all led my weight, stress levels and ability to do well at work to diminish.  It took a breakdown in 2018 for me to realise all these habits needed to stop so i stopped one at a time to give me a better chance, smoking 2016, drinking 2018, gambling 2019….. 

MAKE 2023 UR YEAR FOR A FRESH LIFESTYLE< KEEP ME POSTED ADAM…….