Online slots

Hi Charlene and welcome to the forum! Now thatbuou've introduced yourself you need to start your recovery diary! You've been very brave to come to the site and admit you have a problem....this is a wonderful site, lovely people who will encourage and support you in your fight against this addiction. There is a lot of help here. Keep posting and reading everyone's diary.....find mine for a start! Check in daily....you'll soon get the hang of it. Gambling is so destructive....the awful feeling of self-loathing after gambling....isn't it horrendous? Start your recovery ....don't let this disease win! Stay strong and focused. Helen. X

Thanks helen.. I haven't gambled today, mainly because I have no money. Pay day is coming soon that will be the real test. I'm think if I get the urge which I know I will- I will deposit money into my credit card instead, hopefully reducing the balance. I really need to this, but I'm

Not confident I can do this, I don't know why. But I know I need to!

Hi Charlene! I to have had the same problem, it was so hard to stop. I never thought one minute of play on the Lot-tery site will turn into hours and hours of play on various online slot sites. I was too so secure financially, until I lose hundreds and hundreds on those sites. Is there a way to get rid of your credit card, and depend on just debit card? credit card leads to debts I have found. What I did was tell my bank to reduce the amount I can spend with my debit card, reduced limit helped. I couldn't take out so much nor use so much. Also, best thing to do is tell your partner your problem, or at least someone you know. The relief of telling someone lifts weight off your shoulder. Being a little ashamed that they know my problems helped me a lot as I know I would want to definitely stop if they were little ashamed of me (harsh but worked). I also use my effort in making money through points such as 'swagbucks.com', by putting all my effort through reward sites (something I know I wouldn't lose my money) I ended up focusing on achieving this points, rather than trying to win a 'losing bet'. When you get your next pay check, pay off necessary bills, and then forcibly save the best you can with a target aim in your mind. It will take time, but you can do it. Keep a daily hand journey, I know a friend who did this, and could 'read' her changes over time in her attitudes, and also noted each day how much she saved in that diary.

Hi varisha. Thanks for your advice, I'm not ready to tell anyone about my addiction yet. Not family or friends anyway. The problem is the one person I did tell my close friend is a gambler to, so I have limited talks with her now because it always lead to the topic gambling. For example she might say she's had a big win so I try and get a win too! It's not good.

On Monday I made a deposit of 15. I know I shouldn't have.. But it was like I needed it out of my system. I can't deposit again so that's ok and that's why I think I did it. I got my money back and a little bit more, but I know it could have been different I could have lost that 15 which I actually really needed so the buzz of playing wasn't there and as I have been on here and opened up I feel more inclined to stop. I feel I've made some effort as my weekly spend on gambling this week was 15 usually it would have been hundreds. I hope I can keep this up. Reading other peoples posts and knowing I'm not alone certainly helps.

Don't give in be strong. We are all addicts, and any addiction is hard to stop, and they all have a negative impact on our lives, but gambling, I know when you win it feels great, money for nothing, what's we all think. But when we lose, we lose going to bed feeling awful getting up feeling worst, my worst was I had 18 quid of bonus points on a casino site, I built it up to believe or not over 2 grand. Cashed it out, went to bed feeling great, planning a holiday as you do. Got up the next day reversed 200 quid lost as you do, thought still up, on my days off work I lost the lot, that still stings, and the question that we all ask ourselves is why did I not just leave it. Because we can't. So the only thing we can all do is stop. For good, it's hard, something missing from our lives, but is there, no were addicts we have a compulsion to play we don't want to but we are addicts, the only way to recover is to stop completely, no cheeky 20 quids, it has to be nothing, only way to drag ourselves out of this pit of shame San self loathing. Sorry if I sound rough, don't mean to be, but it's true we stop or we don't, no inbetweens. It doesn't work like that. Regards lisa b

Hi guys thanks for the response. Lisa b, you are spot on with your comments! I know, I need to stop altogether or be prepared for the down hill spiral! I haven't gambled for over a week, I feel ok. I can't gamble because I have no money to gamble at the moment. If I did have then I might just be online spinning away now... Last week I was doing alright, checked my emails and there was one from an online casino saying my self exclusion was over and I "should" log in. Can't believe I did as well, I didn't go wild spent about 30 but I needed that 30 and I felt terrible, I felt bad because I joined gamcare for support and I've read other peoples threads too, it felt like I was going behind everyone's backs on here. Strange feeling- but a good one. The excitement of playing just wasn't there and I'm pleased with that. I'm so happy that I come on here and read peoples posts, and get responses to mine it really helps. Once I start to see my bank balance increase and debts go down It will all be worth it. Thank you all for the support.

Hi charls and good luck with recovery. I submitted a post at the beginning of the week and can see exactly where u are coming from. I think mine is a lot to do with boredom and chasing my losses. I have not been tempted at all since sunday and cringe at all the adverts on TV. I am up and down each hour at the moment but my sister is a massive support. If you have no one to confide in, I urge you to contact Gamcare for a quick chat.

I actually left about 450 in bonus funds in one account but will not log back in to use them. I have tried a blocker but as I am the computer administrator, I just over rided the passwords. I found that changing my password on each site was more useful. I wrote random letters and numbers on a piece of paper - which I would not remember, then used this as new password and burnt the piece of paper. I know that you can still change password but I find that it is still useful to do.

I feel quite fortunate that I should be able to clear my overdraft within the next 5 months due to starting a new job but it means that I will have no spare money (again). I will then concentrate on my credit card. The credit card is ok, as I did a balance transfer for 29 months interest free. I also feel guilty about lying to my husband, as I do not want that type of relationship. I am trying to look forward and be positive in the fact that by this time next year, I should be more or less debt free, however, I keep thinking of what I could have spent the money on.

I keep reminding myself that I have only gambled for the last couple of years, so there was a life before I started (am 47 now). I am looking for ways to be addicted to positive things, as i believe that some of us have an addictive nature.

I hope you keep logging in for support and find the courage to speak to someone non judgemental, as it is a massive help - albeit emotional.

The problem is for me I can stop for months on end but if I start I will simply clear out all that I have like binge drinking this is binge gambling at it's worse .