Hi everyone,
I've decided to sign up to this forum because I have had enough of depositing on those d**n websites. Seeing my bank statement full of gambling site deposits is making me feel sick (I don't even open them anymore).
My gamble of choice is online poker, it all started many years ago when poker was big on TV, it would show 'pro' players winning big money and having fun while plugging various online **********. Well I was one of those s****** who fell for the advertising and signed up convincing myself that I would earn some extra cash.
At first I deposited 100 and decided to play small stakes tournaments and cash games, obviously I lost it all and was sick to my stomach since this was quite a bit of cash for me. I then started watching YouTube videos of the Pokersite I played on and it would upload final tables of their bigger tournaments. One of the more popular ones was the "S***** M******" where they would have a $1 Million prize pool GTD ($200K for the winner) for a $215 entry fee. I thought I was a professional even after previously pumping $1000 worth of deposits into this site. So I deposited $215 and registered and lost the 5th hand I played when I went all in with AA (best hand) and lost to 3 of a kind. I literally felt like crying (not because I lost) because I was just I don't know... you know that feeling when you lose money that is important to you (bills, rent etc)?
I was furious so I deposited $200 more and put it all on the table in a cash game and lost it all within minutes not even trying as I was so annoyed.
Over the last years I have continued to deposit $200 here $100 there convinced I will get my shot at winning life changing money (which obviously never will happen)
So here I am after dumping another $55 earlier playing a tournament I now admit that I won't be like those 'Pro's' on the TV winning money and I have a pretty bad gambling problem.
Any advice on how to stop the urges that say "One more shot, it's your day today!"
Hello Sucker4Lyf,
Welcome to the forum. You have taken a positive step forward by deciding to join and ask for advice. There is no single answer to your question on how to manage the urge to gable.
To begin with, I would recommend that you install blocking software on the devices you use to gamble online. As you would need to set up a password it would be more effective if someone else does this for you so you are not able to uninstall it. www.gamblock.com, www.betfilter.com and www.netnanny.com are the ones we recommend but you may find others on the web.
To help you manage your urges GamCare provides free 1-2-1 counselling sessions. Through counselling you will be able to reflect on the problem and work out a plan for managing the urges that is suitable to you. It is also important that you increase your understanding around the reasons you gamble so you can begin to change things.
Our Helpline and Netline are open from 8 am until midnight seven days a week, so do get in touch and discuss the above with an advisor. In the meantime, I would encourage you to read through other posts on the forum and hoping that you will soon start engaging with other members.
Best wishes,
forumadmin
Hello and well done for deciding enough is enough and posting on this site. There is no short cut to stopping the urges that we are all too familiar with, but in time they can be eliminated. Since deciding myself that there was more to life than winning,(?) or losing, (more like it!) money, I have treated gambling as something that I was addicted to. After just over a year without gambling, I have not changed this view and treating it as an addiction has helped me understand the urges, the withdrawal process and the fact that just one small bet would be enough to drag me back into a life I no longer want. Urges for me demonstrated the power of the addiction and not a lack of motivation on my part, because I was very strongly motivated but came so close on several occasions to slipping back into my old ways. These are some of the things that helped me:
1) Blocking software on my computer. Without this barrier in place, I would not have been able to prevent myself gambling on my computer.
2) The help and support of others. I spoke honestly to my wife and good friends about my gambling, the problems it was causing me and what I had decided to do about it. I went to GA meetings and found the advice and support of certain people invaluable.
3) In the early days I did whatever I had to do to keep away from temptation. As well as blocking software, I made sure that I had no access to funds other than for vital expenses, (it's amazing how little you need when you are not gambling). The days went slowly and each week seemed like a lifetime, but after some time life began to take a different shape and I could concentrate on the many benefits of not gambling.
4) I found new activities, hobbies and pastimes to fill all the many hours of mental and physical energy that were previously reserved for gambling. I am now fitter than I was 20 years ago, more involved with local issues, exercise my brain in many ways and am far richer, both financially and spiritually than I have been for a long time.
I cannot articulate the many ways that my life has improved over the past 14 months and all I had to sacrifice in return was gambling, which offered me plenty and gave me nothing. In fact all it ever did was steal from me in so many ways.
Good luck
Ken
Thanks for the replies!
I literally just downloaded a poker client and was going to give it "one more shot" but I quickly came to this forum and I have removed it.
I think I will join the gym, keep my mind busy instead of that d**n poker....
I honestly hope to never have a bet/gamble again.
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