oh dear oh dear

Hi Cleanslate

sorry to hear things are bad for you right now but what you must realise is that if you carry on betting, they will only get worse. The only way you can start to make yourself feel better is to stop now.

Well done on coming on to this site and admitting to this problem because it could be the best thing you ever did.

You have to accept that what has been lost is gone and today is the start of the rest of your life. You can do this because to try and chase your losses will result in more losses and even if you win something it will just be more gambling credits for you to lose at another point. The only way to start winning now is to put it behind you and try and find a way to cut it out of your life.

It will be hard but it will be worth it. I am 60 days free of the horrible addiction and my life is so much better.

First things you should do if you want to stop is, self exclude from any online bookies you use, land based bookies, use a blocker like betfilteror k9 for your computer.

Is there anyone you can talk to about this that can maybe deal with your finances for a while? Also, if it is your phone that you gambe on, can you exchange it for one that doesnt have internet access?

These are all things you can do to help in recovery but the main thing is the want to not be in the throws of this addiction anymore. You need to give yourself a chance at a better life and it really can be wonderful without the self loathing that comes with gambling.

There is a great support network on this site and you can also arrange counselling support if you need it.

All the best

Linda

thanks linda.

im at that point where i refuse to accept my big recent losses...

hi

well if you find it difficult to accept your recent losses today at least accept that you will not make them worse by gambling today.

All the money side of things can be dealt with one day at a time but you must draw the line. Give yourself a chance now to be free from it.

You cannot beat the bookie, its a fact so whats done is done but you can give yourself the wonderful gift that is recovery from today. Be nice to yourself, you are not a bad person just someone (like all of us here) that has had our lives ruined by gambling. Dont let it do it to you anymore!

I hope you can see through the next few days gamble free and then the cloud will lift.

Linda

thanks linda. you are right but the loss is eating away at me. i cant stand it !

i know it is hard- but have a read through some diaries here and you will see that you are not alone in dealing with these big losses but at some point it has to stop so why not today? Its up to you how it goes from here but why come back once you have had another big loss. You may aswell deal with it now.

I hope you manage it anyway and if not well you can still come back when you are truely ready to stop.

All the best

Linda x

hi linda

you make it seem inevitable but then i know it is, so why is my mind disputing that fact. oh, hang on, is this an illness ? i guess an addiction is an illness.

thanks

The reason people continue to gamble and never stop is because they treat gambling as something that can be done with moderation, responsibly.

Unfortunately "gambling responsibly" is a myth created by the gambling industry. You can never gamble responsibly, you should treat gambling as monster, as something you hate and despise ... if you don't treat gambling like that you would never get out of it. I have talked about it on GamblingStories.com where I tried to give some tips to similar chaps who had the same troubles.

I've been gambling for 7 years now and have just turned my back on it. The reason is because I recently won some big amounts but ended up losing it back because the more you win the bigger the stakes need to be in order to replicate that high and it spirals out of control. Turn your back on it mate, the only way to make real money and be financially secure is to earn it...winning in gambling is an illusion because you always lose it all back and then some. Make your own luck, work hard at your job and make a better future. Good luck to you.

guys,

what you are saying is absolutely true and the most crazy part of all this is that i know very well myself.

If im brutally honest with myself, its all down to the fact that indeed, im just trying to get a high and that high has been sourced by huge stakes. Im actually very empty inside and theres no doubt i first started gambling in 2005 when i was very low because i was having troubles in my marriage.

i have to walk away from it, somehow. Its such a horrible stress anyway.

yuk

please someone on here, help me. I need personal counselling as a matter of urgence. I live in Reading , berks area. I ended up being almost £4000 down tonight but finished level. Thats after losing thousands recently.

My life cant go on like this....i must be really ill. desperately need help.

I feel emotionally wrecked and i know im way beyond self control !

We've all been where you are clean slate,that feeling of helplessness,your not unique or alone.

There's no magic pill clean slate,but you can beat this addiction.

Buy yourself some breathing space,time is your friend.

For now cancel your debit/credit cards- say you lost them,do whatever. Then self exclude from every site you use,install gamblock on your computer,self exclude from all your local bookies.

Is there any1 you can give trust of your finances?

Initially put as many blocks in place you possibly can.

You've gotta accept your never gona get back what you've lost,even if you did you would crave for more winnings that would eventually lead you spiralling to more losses,and the cycle starts again.

Give yourself a chance,its amazing after just a few days you will start to think clearer,and day by day grow stronger.

Accept the things you cannot change,the courage to change the things you can and the wisdom to know the difference.

Never give up on giving up.