New here and fighting back.

Hi guys, 

Joined this group around 1 month ago after trying on and off for a few years to quit gambling! 

I was always a very casual gambler betting on the occasional football acca until around 2015 when I started going out most weekends with friends to the pub who would be on football and horses all day.

This quickly moved from only betting on a Saturday to mostly daily ( if cash allowed). Like most, I tried to convince myself it wasn't a problem...didn't have any other "bad habits,"etc. But it was! Soon, the up and down moods began usually ended up like this...

Early kick of 1st team down - bad mood new bet. Moods lifts

3pm cert to win player red card! Bet down. bet down , place another. 

Evening - bet down 90+ 10 equaliser! Bet down.

Onto Sunday...need another on. 

I've always been a very level-headed guy and can honestly say the effect gambling has had on me made me a different person at times! One i didn't like, and I hated the control this was developing over me. My gambling increase did coincide with what was a very tough time for me personally and it absolutely became a crutch and an escape from my own mind and reality. 

Betting increased, new accounts opened and losses continued to be chased. 

I tried usual solutions. Deposit limits, time outs etc but eventually would revert back. 

Eventually i decided I had to do something so excluded myslef for 1 year through gamstop. This was pretty successful on the whole however once I lifted the exclusion as I wanted to "see if I could manage it myself" old habits crept back and ended up going backwards. 

I excluded again for 6 months but this time I discovered non UK casinos and of course opened accounts and continued to lose money over and over wins would never cover the losses EVER! 

Just over a month ago, I wasted around £300 over 2 days. i literally felt like I couldn't stop myself. 

The day after, I decided I'd had enough and had to be completely honest with myself and admit I can't stop on my own and need help. I am responsible for the situation, and i had to take ownership. That day, I found GAMBAN, and after some hesitation, I installed it on all devices at home. 

The relief I felt that I couldn't bet anymore was overwhelming but was followed by a feeling of oh what have I done. The first weekend after was hard as there is a lot of sport on, but gradually, i felt a shift in my mind. 

Today, I am 1 month and 8 days free from gambling. Getting here has been far from easy with a lot of setbacks and has absolutely been an emotional roller coaster. However, I finally feel like I'm breaking the hold it had on me, and I'm fighting back and getting stronger every day.

Joining this group has helped me so much as I know the struggle is real for so many, and I've read many inspirational stories too it gave me hope and strength. 

Keep fighting folks 

Thanks for reading. 

C