My story!

Hi EJA88

Welcome to the GamCare forum and thank you for posting your story here. I hope in due course you get plenty of support and encouragement for your journey towards recovery from problem gambling from our forum members. If you haven't already, do please give our Advisors a call on 0808 8020 133 on the free HelpLine or the netline and we can advise on how to put effective strategies in place amongst other things.

You mention that you will post daily updates, so it would be a great idea to do that in the 'Recovery Diary' section of our forum which is where other contributors go to read recovery diaries and respond to posts.

Warm regards

Leigh

Forum Admin

Hi EJA88,

Firstly well done on facing up to your problem and coming here to talk about it. It gets better the more you talk I find.

It’s quite scary you only being 20 as I’ve been a gambler almost all your life. 🙂 sadly this addiction hasn’t got an age catchment range. Anyone can become addicted.

A few things that have helped me;

1. Don’t carry cards.

This may sound crazy but without them you can’t get money out easily. You could withdraw from the bank using ID but it’s more complicated

2. carry a small amount of cash with you that way you don’t lose a lot if you do have a relapse.

3. Sign up to Gamstop for 5 years. It makes you feel better knowing you can’t gamble easily online.

Good luck.

Thanks for the support guys!

CJ. wrote:

Hi EJA88,

Firstly well done on facing up to your problem and coming here to talk about it. It gets better the more you talk I find.

It’s quite scary you only being 20 as I’ve been a gambler almost all your life. 🙂 sadly this addiction hasn’t got an age catchment range. Anyone can become addicted.

A few things that have helped me;

1. Don’t carry cards.

This may sound crazy but without them you can’t get money out easily. You could withdraw from the bank using ID but it’s more complicated

2. carry a small amount of cash with you that way you don’t lose a lot if you do have a relapse.

3. Sign up to Gamstop for 5 years. It makes you feel better knowing you can’t gamble easily online.

Good luck.

Hi EJ, welcome! .... Agree with CJ on all his guidance, the main one for me was Gamstop, that’s if you’re more an online gambler, it’s a godsend! As you are so young and have felt the buzz gambling gives you, my advice also is never be complacent about the power an urge can have on you, be on your guard and ready with your ways to tackle it. I thought I could do it on my own with no blockers... another couple of grand down the drain and I knew I couldn’t ... get those strategies in place to help you now while you’re still feeling the low of this beast.. it will get better, you can do it! Everyone on here is a great support. Good luck Kaz xx

Thanks Kaz. Reading through a few threads and comments. Gamstop is a big hit with a lot of people. I’ll get that sorted. Can I get it across different devices would you know? Thanks Kaz

EJA

Hi EJA88

It is a blanket blocking system for online gambling sites. It will block your account not your applications as such. Some people have tried to get through its defence mechanism and then gamble again.

If you want to quit this you need to try hard and set small goals. These goals will help you.

Can you make it a day without gambling? Then 2 then 3 then a week then two weeks then a month etc.

I went pretty full on with mine setting my first goal at 30 days. Towards the end of my gambling I was spending 3 /4 hours a night gambling winning then losing then winning and ultimately losing it again. Not only did I lose money, I lost time. Money can be replaced but sadly time can’t.

I’m up to day 22 and I haven’t had many urges. Walked past bookmakers and smiled and sat and watched football and the betting adverts with no issues. Even said I’m not participating in the Grand national sweep next month so it’s all good this end.

You can do it. Just tell yourself you can win at beating this addiction. Just like you told yourself you can win at gambling. 🙂

CJ.

EJA88 wrote:

Thanks Kaz. Reading through a few threads and comments. Gamstop is a big hit with a lot of people. I’ll get that sorted. Can I get it across different devices would you know? Thanks Kaz

EJA

It does help as part of the wider recovery. I’m also going to remove all funds from my account when I get paid to make it more difficult. Online is my downfall using PayPal, if I don’t have the money there I can’t spend it 🙂 CJ answered about the devices question so you’ll be fine... I also started an actual recovery diary on here which I update daily, that really is helping me and others can comment and give you the boost needed sometimes... anyway, good luck and keep us posted... Kaz xxx

Interesting one in relation to PayPal Kaz. For me, my PayPal account has the ability to spend and it doesnt take it until a few days later on a Direct Debit. This is where i got into strife.I gambled, loading £30 which added up to £60 to £90 and so on. This meant if i won i would take the funds out and replenish. I ended up chasing though and had to replenish from savings.

I would say that GamStop is the key to all of this as PayPal won't help you and won't put in any blocking measures to prevent you using that system. I asked and they were un-cooperative to assist.

CJ.

Cheers guys. Gamstop has been with me for 3 days now and it’s working superbly. Can’t access anything for the maximum length which I believe is 5 years! Keep me posted guys and good luck!

Also I can relate to Paypal spending as well. It seemed as if it was never my money. Just numbers so I could easily put £20/30 in a betting site and not think of it. But if that was out my bank or with cash. I think I’d have thought twice!

Take care, EJA

EJA88, youve got it. 🙂

Keep going you are doing well and we are by your side conquering this battle together.
CJ.

Well done you!! 🙂 it’s a big step, I know.... but you will be sooo much happier xx good luck xxx

Good afternoon guys, hope you are doing well! I feel so much happier, healthier, prouder and have more time on my hands now. Never really understood the aspect of how much time was consumed gambling. Never thought of it, only the money side. Gamstop is working a treat. It’s the barrier that supports my self confidence and I’m sure I can turn these 9 days into 28 days. Easily. Then onwards from there!

Take care, have a good weekend, EJA88

Awesome EJA88. You’re sounding more and more positive.

Keep going you can beat this.

CJ.

EJA88 wrote:

Good afternoon guys, hope you are doing well! I feel so much happier, healthier, prouder and have more time on my hands now. Never really understood the aspect of how much time was consumed gambling. Never thought of it, only the money side. Gamstop is working a treat. It’s the barrier that supports my self confidence and I’m sure I can turn these 9 days into 28 days. Easily. Then onwards from there!

Take care, have a good weekend, EJA88

Very proud of us both! I too feel like you and am even happier to actually have money in my account, it’s made me feel so liberated I keep checking my balance lol - Day 14 today and I’ve not even wanted to gamble at all. It definitely gets easier the longer you’re gf... have a great weekend!

Kaz xx