My story (in brief)

Hey AC80

sounds like it’s definitely time to start living! 

it’s really hard to admit we’re addicts but this has to be understood and accepted before we have any chance of moving forward. You’re 40th Birthday will be a wonderful celebration of you stop gambling now 🙂

There is a gambling triangle. The points are Time, Money and availability. Remove these points and you won’t be able to gamble.

get all your blocks in place (gamstop and gamban are the most popular), this removes the availability.  Consider handing over control of your finances to a loved one to remove the money aspect. Do your mum and dad know you gamble?

lastly time.... you said your socially inept with no friends. Is this because you want to be? Try filling your time so that there is none for gambling. Perhaps a hobby. This may sound ridiculous but I’m going to take up archery 🙂

Good luck, you’re not alone in your fight.

Em x

Morning.

Don't be surprised one day if the gambling industry manages to find a way to offer all their clients a free computer or mobile phone so we can be tucked into bed with it when we go to sleep. It is all about availability for them.  They may even only have pop-up real casinos in the future but hey than can afford any kind of rent so why bother. One of the first pieces of advice I looked up online against addiction was this. Start by changing your environment if possible. Your gambler has found a good and safe place where you can gamble undisturbed and it sounds to me when I read your post that you are a bit too much alone if you agree. We don't realise it but we actually need people. We are flock animals but we walk around the earth like we could do it all solo. Well we cant and it will demand some effort from you but it is richly more rewarding than any roulette ever could be. This forum is great. It has people with similar experiences to share their stories and give you points that you can use in your everyday life. Take small steps. Tell yourself this. If I got this far with all that I have been through. Surely I am supposed to get a bit further?

Best of luck. Stay strong.

Posted by: c43h

Morning.

Don't be surprised one day if the gambling industry manages to find a way to offer all their clients a free computer or mobile phone so we can be tucked into bed with it when we go to sleep. It is all about availability for them.  They may even only have pop-up real casinos in the future but hey than can afford any kind of rent so why bother. One of the first pieces of advice I looked up online against addiction was this. Start by changing your environment if possible. Your gambler has found a good and safe place where you can gamble undisturbed and it sounds to me when I read your post that you are a bit too much alone if you agree. We don't realise it but we actually need people. We are flock animals but we walk around the earth like we could do it all solo. Well we cant and it will demand some effort from you but it is richly more rewarding than any roulette ever could be. This forum is great. It has people with similar experiences to share their stories and give you points that you can use in your everyday life. Take small steps. Tell yourself this. If I got this far with all that I have been through. Surely I am supposed to get a bit further?

Best of luck. Stay strong.

 

What wonderful words and I could not agree more. I have spent my entire life to date thinking I don't need people; convincing myself how terrible and disgusting so many humanbeings are and honestly believing I am better off without them.

I AM REALLY NOT.

In the last few days I realise and accept unconditonally just how much I do need people in my life. I am lost without them. I am lonely, I am helpless, I am unloved and I have nobody to love. I am really starting to love myself now as that has to be the starting point. The oldest line in the book, 'loving oneself,' but the truest of all truths and it is only the truth that will set me free.

Thank you for posting this, Simon.

AC80, It appears that the Time, Money and Availability problem is a huge issue.

You are an addict, so are we all and is important to accept that.

A Councillor once asked me, what do I need help with.

Do I want to stop.

Do I not want to care about the result.

Do I want to control myself and enjoy the habit.

Accordingly he could take it further.

At 55 pounds an hour, and now 2 years on, completely unsuccessful I now understand that I am an addict, and possibly proud of my 31 days today, and hanging in trying not to get back.

It is important to kick the habit, and sooner or later something really bad will surely happen, as your story currently does not seem to give the big WHY?

All the best. 

So about four months after I posted this I created an account with an online casino and was soon £X up.

It didn't last!

As of two hours ago I closed that account (locked it for 5 years) and deleted my log in / password.

I think I was about £X down!

I have also deleted and unsubscribed to youtube searches and subscriptions that reference gambling.

If I am honest with myself I am kind of happy I lost my last £x because it has given me a reality check.

Yes I feel a bit rubbish but think am a believer of thinks happening for a reason.

I start a new job at the end of October and think will go forward with a new outlook on my finances.

I am not just writing this, I am going to do it and actually learn from my mistakes by being strong minded.

Good for you AC80 and good luck. The fact you’re back on the forum alone shows you want to get the gambling under control.

One day at a time.