"I can't win because I can't stop."
I've recently identified that I have a gambling problem and was scouring the internet last night in the hope that I found something, anything, that would help me address my problems. I saw the quote above on this forum and related to it completely. I hope I'm in the right place.
I'm 23 years old and have been gambling on a regular basis since the age of 16. Initially it started as 1 football accumulators, which then gradually increased and, low and behold, I then discovered fixed odds betting terminals and casinos.
In the last week I've gambled around 1,000 on roulette on both FOBTs and also in the casino - both times playing roulette. I regularly gamble on football and horse racing, generally within my limits, but I have decided that I need to abstain from these activities in order to address my larger problem.
I have a self exclusion in place at my local casinos which has been a help but any time I am outwith my local city I cannot help but visit the casino. I will chase, and chase, and chase until my main numbers come up. On my recent visit, I visited the cash machine 5 times, withdrawing 100 a visit and wasting it all on a single spin each time. I'm not in control when playing.
Gambling has more or less taken over my life. It's all I talk about, outside work its almost all I think about. No matter what the conversation topic is, it always ends up in gambling chat. I want to stop this activity and begin to lead a normal life again.
I am an avid football fan and hold an annual membership at my local racecourse. I would like to get to the point where I can still place an accumulator at the weekend of say 10 for enjoyment but I know there is an underlying issue which must be tackled first and the only answer is to abstain completely.
I'm convinced I now want to tackle this and I'm looking forward to sharing my journey with you all.
I actually feel so much better having written this already!!
Thanks
Big Man.
Hello Big Man - Well done for admitting that you have a problem and for finding this site - probably the best thing you've done this year!
I think you know what the right path is and that for a compulsive gambler there are no half measures: we simply cannot 'pick 'n' mix' when it comes to gambling, because as you have already seen "We cannot win because we cannot stop." Whether it's a weekly 10 accumulator or a hundred a whack, it all comes to the same dismal scenario - whatever we win we lose, again and again and again.
So now is the time to stop this madness, and you will find heaps of advice, support and inspiration here. May I suggest that you start a Diary in the 'Recovery diaries' section where you can chart your progress and receive encouraging words from fellow-travellers. Best of all, in my opinion, is the '2014 Challenge' on the 'Overcoming problem gambling' page. This is a team effort, led by Mr Brightside - it's a real help in keeping you on track. with a real 'community' feel to it.
I wish you well on your journey to a saner life free of this terrible addiction.
Best wishes,
Joanna
Hi Joanna,
Thanks for taking the time to reply to my post. Its pleasing to know there are people out there to support me through this.
I've been going through forum and I think you've hit the nail on the head. I'll definitely be joining the 2014 challenge and starting a diary. I've completed one day so far and looking to keep myself occupied through day 2 to avoid any distractions.
Today has been a bit of a challenge, my lunch hour usually consists mainly of Sporting Life where I can scour the daily racecards and where almost every article is gambling related. I need to find alternative websites/activities to occupy myself throughout the hour....
Thanks again.
Big Man
Evening Bigman
Just dropping by to say hi, welcome you to the forum and to give you some reassurance that you're in the right place to get support on your journey. I'm sorry you're here in the first place, but completely sympathise with the reasons why.........your types of gambling sound very similar to the ones I was so badly tied up in.
The theory of I cannot win because I cannot stop really struck me too........but there's other theories that have really helped me. If you read the spotlight story on the last update page (232) of the challenge thread you posted on (well done on that one š ) you'll see a guy called duncanmacs speaking about the triangle. It's so simple, but so true.
Creating the conditions for stopping are vital......if you can get really solid foundations in place then you'll overcome it.......and we'll be with you every step of the way!!
All the best mate,
Mr Brightside
Thanks for that Mr Brightside. I'm still finding my way around all the forum but there is so much good content on here to help.
I'll be checking into the challenge before Saturday, hopefully on Friday where I will have been free of gambling for 4 days.
I'm starting to feel like I have put the foundations in place, I now just need to build on them and stay strong!!!
Big Man.
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