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Trting desperately to give up gambling but if anything losing even more money than ever . A thousand pounds in 2 days this week . Didn't gamble today even though had money in my pocket all day .

In same position as you buddy. Please do not gamble and keep the money for bills and other things you need. I spent my last penny and regret it so much. Stay strong.

Z

Cheers mate . Going away for 2 nights next week. Was looking forward to it but it's ruined now as I'll be thinking of the money I lost all the time . Anyway day 1 done . Good luck yourself

Hi JohnnyBoy,

You need to forget about the money mate. It's gone and you won't get it back so draw a line under it, treat it as an expensive lesson and move on. If you dwell on the money, not only will it make it miserable but, at some point it will seem like a good idea to try and win it back (and we know how that ends).

You're hurting from the loss now...good, use that as motivation to make ACTUAL changes. Whilst you're feel like this get some blocks in place (self exclusion, close accounts, blocking software, limit access to money etc). If you don't then, much like a hangover, the pain from the loss will fade and you'll start to think 'maybe gambling wasn't so bad after all, and then the cycle just carries on.

Good luck and try to enjoy the recovery, you'll be amazed how quickly you start to feel better but ACT NOW. Why not imagine you spent £1,000 of a course on 'Why you shouldn't gamble' or some expensive hypnotheropy then it isn't a loss, it's an investment and a very worthwhile one IF you stay away.

All the best

Phil

Great advice that Phil thanks . Yeah I'm trying to forget about the loss but it's constantly in my head thinking why didn't I stop when I was only a couple of hundred down . But I couldn't, all I was focused on was winning it back until it was all gone . I feel ashamed and can't believe it's happened again .

Trust me Johnny, you're not alone I think we've been there and done it.

The thing is, if you had left with a smaller loss then maybe you wouldn't be here, maybe you'd not have triggered that part of your brain that said "Enough's enough!" so maybe that one big loss was a good thing as it triggered something inside you that made you decided you wanted to quit.

If you HAD only lost 'a couple of hundred' (something that would seem mad to non-gamblers) then you'd have only gone back and gambled again so you would have lost that grand whether it took one session or a dozen. I grow a little tired of cliches but the saying "We cannot win because we cannot stop" is 100% right. If no win is big enough and you can't accept a loss, if you will ALWAYS go back for more and if you can't moderate (and trust me, we can't) then the end result will always be the same.

I'd say 'Good Luck' but this isn't about luck, it's about hard work and taking practical steps to stop gambling and change your life. Don't rely on willpower alone, it might seem like enough for a while but when gambling calls you'll need something much more solid in place.

All the best

Hello this is my first time the phone helpline said that I can come here and get help my problem is with scratch cards I've spent more than I should have done and now it's time to get some help and to save my 17 year marriage I'm not spending thousands of pounds a day or week but more than I should have done I have some debts and people phoning me up and writing but now I need help with this so where do I start

Start a separate thread on here pal then people will answer you individually .you've posted this on mine do all the advice will get mixed up . Hope you're ok

Johnnyboychap wrote: Start a separate thread on here pal then people will answer you individually .you've posted this on mine do all the advice will get mixed up . Hope you're ok

Sorry about that as you can see I'm new to this thank you for your time

Cheers Phil . I really wish I could forget about it. I know I will in time because I've been through this before but for now I have to put up with this sickly feeling I have . The thought of what positive things I could have done with that money rather than watching a computerised roulette wheel and standing in a scruffy bookies . It's madness and not what I want to experience again . Day 2 today .

Hi mate

Phils advice spot on, I joined the forum 3 weeks ago. My problem is/was the roulette machines in bookies. I know exactly how you feel, I have spent years chasing my losses and of course, losing thousands more instead. Forget the money, its gone. Try and put a plan in place that prevents you losing thousands more next week or month. Remember even if you win, you will think you are on a lucky streak, carry on playing another day and you will lose the lot, sinking even lower and getting further into debt. Willpower alone for me is not enough, my wife controls absolutely all my finances now, and has access to my credit file, I warned her to never ever trust me with money as i'm useless. In just 3 weeks I have more money in my bank than I have had in years, I was in a dark place but finally feel I have hope again. Have you got a trusted friend/family member you can tell, so they can look after your finances. Admitting you have a problem is a great start now follow the advice that is available on the forum. Feel free to click on my name and read my story, 'finally fighting back'. Believe me I know all about those bookies machines, they are evil.

All the best to you Johnny

Cheers . I've survived today with 200 in my pocket . Still feel c**P

Anyone up and can give me some advice cos I feel like s**t

Hi Johnnyboychap I saw your earlier posts and just updated myself . It seems like you are going through a few emotions . If it helps feel free to read my diary (graduated from a newbie) some thoughts in there may ring true . Alternatively hola back at me and tell me what you are feeling . I find the support on here invaluable