Stopping for good starting now

Hi Disco,
Your story sounds very similar to mine except my partner of 5 years could not cope with my addiction and the debt I had run up and left me. I'm glad you have signed up to Gamstop and self excluded from places, it's the biggest help having the option to gamble restricted. It really helps you as you begin to recover and if you have feelings of wanting to gamble, it makes it not easily accessible. I wish you all the luck with your recovery and hope the doctors can help with the other aspects of your life, which will also help you with staying stopped from gambling.

Jenn

Hi Jenn

thanks for messaging back, I think I have been very lucky in that aspect as I always seem to rely on her and it’s not fair ,luckily I have this one chance to put it right !! Gamstop seems to be much more effective than just self excluding , im just hoping I can keep it going this time , how are you doing with your recovery ? Thanks

You just have to think about what you have to lose, money and relationship wise and that helps fight the little voice inside your head telling you to gamble. I think gamstop is fantastic and I am constantly telling people about it as it isn't as well know as it should be. I have gambled for the last 12 years and have now hit the lowest point of my life. I've found it really helpful talking to other recovering gamblers on chat rooms and on here. Something I never did before, I was very secretive about my addiction, which is what it feeds on. I haven't gambled in the last month and although I have lost my partner and alot of money, I feel really positive about recovery. Found gamstop and signed up for 5 years. Regretted it for the first 2 days and tried to find a way round it (as many have) but each day gamble free feels great. I'm sure if you are committed and have put blocks in place you can rack up the days with no gambling.

20 days now for me and 2 counselling sessions down , no access to my money and finally starting to get my finances in order, it’s the start of a long journey but desperate not to relapse, 5 months I went the last time so hoping i know I can do it ! How have you been doing ?? Hope the gamstop is still helping

Day 28 Gambling free , no thoughts or urges which has to be a first in a hell of a long time , I had gone 5 months before my relapse recently but I feel more positive and hope everything I am doing will help, finances now in order through debt advice with stepchange , 3 counselling sessions so far and support from another over the phone counselling through my work .I have started learning a foreign language and start back at judo after 15 years away from it , I’m just trying to occupy myself and feel much more positive than ever, the demons will always be there but hoping I can keep going , I would also like to recommend a book which I have just downloaded called Allen Carr the easy way to stop gambling , I downloaded on to kindle on my phone and so far so good !! Thanks for The support from other members and it has been a real help reading other stories too , I wish everyone all the best with the journey which will no doubt have it’s ups and downs

Hi ALN,

thanks for the messages , The only reason I said this was my own personal experience ,one of my favourite things is watching my team play football on tv or live or even watching Match of the day , I have always had a passion for football well before the gambling , as it stands I have had no urge to gamble but this may have just been the realisation that I was about to lose everything my family /home and whatever else that goes with it ! I feel that what I am doing is working just now ,I am having psychotherapy just now to try and understand the root of the problem but stress is one of the biggest reasons I have turned back to gambling and a relapse after 6 months GF was during a difficult time personally , I do understand what you are saying regarding sports but i suppose there may be a few that see this differently , I don’t think I’d watch anywhere near as much sport as 20 hours a week it would just be my own team really or a good game that might be on

52 days free from this evil addiction, the last few days have been difficult as I’ve been struggling at work and got hit with a letter from the courts for a payday loan so that will haunt me for a good while , gambling would be so easy to turn to in these situations but something feels different , I just feel low but haven’t got the urge to do anything as the realisation hit me like a bus after the relapse , My friend even had a spare room ready for me and in my head I thought my marriage was over ! I’ve been doing everything I can , reading , podcasts and continuing therapy and one on one counselling,paid my first payments towards my debts which felt good , I just need to get myself out this mental rut that I’m in ,I think the biggest thing for me is to get a structure back in my life and some hobbies to occupy my time ....don’t think Netflix counts . I love reading the diaries and messages from everyone and can relate to every one of them in some way ! Stay strong and here’s to a gamble free 2019

68 Days now for me but the last week or so has been really testing , I’ve had a Ccj registered in my name for a crappy payday loan I took out during all of this , I had agreed a payment plan but because I had moved home and missed the emails I had no idea they would take such a small debt as far as they did , feel really low as I know I have been doing so well , counselling has been tough , work has been a massive stress that I don’t need and I can’t sleep and feel like something is missing , I don’t want to gamble but I’m absolutely petrified that I’m going to lose control and lose everything, I know my wife will walk if I mess up this time, there are times I feel brilliant and that everything is back on track and then I get the nights that I sit overthinking and a massive void to fill since stopping, I don’t want to go to work tomorrow and I’m already thinking of an excuse , I just want to close the world out and just feel in such a dark lonely place despite having everyone there to support me ....I feel ashamed and selfish for what I have done to my family and friends but need to snap out of this

Hi DAL83

Well done on reaching your 68 days, this is a fantastic achievement. I'm sorry to read that things have been a struggle lately but wanted to encourage you to look forwards and acknowledge the work you've been doing so far by writing and updating your diary and engaging with counselling. If you can avoid overthinking and try and develop new interests as you mention, then over time those moments you feel brilliant and on track should increase. Please don't be alone with this, if you need to chat then please call our free HelpLine on 0808 8020 133 or the netline and speak to one of our Advisors.

Warm regards

Leigh

Forum Admin

Just hit the 100 days , god it feels good ! What a tough time and still a hell of a long way to go but the advice from people on here and stories I read daily really inspire me to stick at it !

Dear DAL83,

well done on 100 days gf! Keep going, keep reading and keep setting yourself achivable and managable targets.

All the very best,

Eva

Forum Admin