Relapsed

Hi Oliver

Many thanks for asking how I'm doing. I'm still going, not "strong" but going at least. I've had some 1-2-1 counselling arranged via Gamcare and it was helpful.

I think gambling through the night has wrecked my sense of what is sleep time and what is awake time though as I still have bad insomnia!

I'm sorry to have read you have had a slight setback but the good thing is that you mentioned you are determined to have another go. It won't be long before the gamble free days start adding up again. I can imagine you are a bit annoyed and disappointed but it's not the end of the world so don't be too harsh with yourself!

For me I think it's down to sheer fear. The fear of feeling worse from gambling than I do from not gambling - if that makes sense!! Although Betblocker came off my devices tonight I still have Gamstop for protection. I don't think I could manage without the blocks as I'm still on very shaky ground despite being on day 86 of not gambling. 

Do you have any blocks?  I know blocks can seem a bit too "final", I thought the same.

Sorry, I have gone on a bit !!

Let us know how you have done tomorrow.

All the best.

Dear @oliver

I’m sorry to hear that you have experienced a lapse, they are common in recovery from problem gambling, but we understand can be very frustrating and sometimes costly.

Please don’t feel though that you are starting again; it’s good that you have had some time gamble free and it’s about building back on that now.

It sounds like you have had some good advice already from another forum user and the option of using exclusion and blocking would be really useful right now to put some protection in place from any future lapses. You can register with Gamstop ( https://www.gamstop.co.uk/ ) for free and there are other options that we would like to be able to talk to you about.

We are here 24/7 on the helplines or netline so if you haven’t spoken with us already then please know that we are here for you.

Kind regards

Jo

Forum admin

Hi Amba,

Great to hear from you.

Day 86 gamble free. That is amazing. Well done to you.

Sorry to hear about your insomnia. I remember last time we spoke you were suffering from this to. I hope I can sleep, as like you, I used to gamble till the early hours.

I am very annoyed at myself and disappointment. Debt to family friends and more payday loans. It has to stop though hence coming back here. I myself am registered with GAMSTOP but been using my brothers account. He’s not on GAMSTOP. I was using Gamban (on my last attempt) but didn’t work for me as found ways round it on my iPhone. (Wish I hadn’t got round it as cost me a lot of money by doing it!) How does betblocker work?

Don’t worry about going on. You aren’t. It’s good to hear other experiences. Sounds like you are doing the right things with the counselling. 

Day 1 done today. Haven’t deposited which feels good especially with football having been on tonight. I used to bet on sports.

I’m the one going on now! I really hope you manage to sleep tonight. Stay in touch.

Regards

Oliver

Hi again Oliver.

Good on you for not doing the betting. It must be an added torment when it's tied into something you enjoy watching.

Betblocker is something I wished I never had to be honest. The organisation is a charitable organisation so it's s free app. Its just to stop you getting on the gambling sites. I think it must have clashed with another app on my phone and tablet but it caused no end of problems. And I could still access the sites. I wished I'd seen all the negative comments about it on Trustpilot before I installed !! 

I haven't told any family that I have got myself in this situation. I know that it is recommended to do so but it wouldn't be helpful in my particular position. 

You hear some people say you have to hit "rock-bottom" before you get back on your feet again with gambling. For some there is more than one level of "rock-bottom". There was for me. Its obviously not a great state of affairs but it's OK because it means we'll be that bit stronger on the next attempt.

Keep going - here's to the next few days being gamble free too.