That's it I've quit

It seems we have quit at the same time. We can do this

Hi Aaron,

Welcome and thank you for posting on the forum.

Well done for making the decision to stop gambling, we can imagine this is a huge step for you. 

It's great you have gone a step further and self excluded from online gambling websites. If at any point you need a bit more support in your journey to recovery, please do not hesitate to get in touch with our helpline. One of our advisers can talk you through some more blocks you can put in place. Our advisers can also refer you to a local treatment service who will help you explore different strategies you can use to help you live gamble free. Our helpline/Netline operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week -0808 8020 133.

Please continue to post and share.

All the very best,

Forum Admin

Hi Aaron, you can do this. I did it after 3 years. It nearly ruined my life.. if you need any support please feel free to contact me.

Claire 

That’s the spirit! Fight your urges one day at a time, one HOUR at a time to start with. But with each day and each new barrier you put in place you will get stronger and saner.

Read my post in Success Stories for the things you need to do ASAP to make this journey easier on yourself.

As Einstein once said: “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over, and expecting a different outcome.”

Time to put the insanity back in its box.

All the best,

Mike

Hi mate

ive been on and off here for a while and had problems gambling for years now even though I’m 27

I know what I have to but doing it has taken me time because Ellie you I have chased losses and always believed there is that ‘one big win’ which gets us out of debt entirely and leaves us with a big lump sum to go off and ‘ride into the sunset’. Obviously you and I both know that’s all rubbish.

you say you have self excluded on all sites? How have you done this? Personally I tried that in the early stages but it wasn’t enough as there’s always a site. Have you tried gamstop? If you have that’s great and if not I would suggest doing it mate and 5 years is a good start. 
I did it for a year and then thought I was cured and went back l, eventually slipping into old habits and increasing bets till.... well you know what! Lost everything again.

well done for posting on her mate and hope you crack it!! 

Hi All, so I started this thread and unfortunately I relapsed and lost a further 12k so 37k gone now. I chose not to even look at this forum but maybe I should from now on as it can provide support and maybe I should try out a group chat at one stage, I don't really feel comfortable speaking with somebody 1 to 1 as I don't want to dump my problems onto them.

I am lucky in a way that I still have no debt, and I have a stable job with absolutely no risk of redundancy and financially every pay day after all the expenses etc and shopping I always have spare money which I then blow it.

I need to find something to do with the spare money I end up with, If I move it to a separate account the temptation might still be there, maybe move it into premium bonds then start of every calendar year put it in an ISA, atleast with premium bonds and ISA I don't lose the money!

I will do something with the money because otherwise it will all just go on gambling again which I can't have.

I will get there!

Hi Aaron well done for coming back. Try coming on often I m 77 days in now gamble free and I find that reading on here and posting helps keep me focussed and in the mix. Your idea of putting money into premium bonds etc is really good making things as difficult as possible to gamble is definitely a deterrent. Do you use the blockers etc if you don't gamstop has been a gamechanger for me I know without it the temptations to gamble would have been terrible . Good luck hope you find a way forward

Hi Aaron, 

Welcome back to the Forum. Well done for taking this step to post on here again. I am sure you will get some fantastic support from other forum members. 

It sounds as if spare money might be a trigger for you. Your thoughts about putting money away is a great idea and might be a good way to protect yourself from future relapses. 

If you would like to talk through this a little more our advisers are available 24/7. They are non judgemental and here to support and advise you through this. You can contact them on the HelpLine on 0808 8020 133 or by using our Livechat option. 

For now, please keep using the Forum as it can be a great source of support. 

Take care, 

Rebecca, 

Forum Admin. 

And I am back again!

This time I am in debt to family members but that's manageable with it being family, but I just can't seem to shake this habit.

I stupidly tried different methods of sports betting trying out different strategies and it actually works to some degree as I make early profits and i think "just one more bet" and that's when it loses it all!

I am at a crossroads as part of me wants to believe that my strategy can work if I find some self control and stop when I know I should! My issue is I never stop when I know I should. Maybe I need to quit gambling forever, but there's always that part of me what believes in my strategy.

Anyway next week I am going to the Cheltenham festival all 4 days and I have deliberately put a large portion of my money in a separate account which bank card I will be leaving at home, and I am going with a strict budget which is enough to eat and drink with! So I won't be able to bet on line or on course even if I want to.

I am hoping by doing that, that gives me that experience of what's it like not to bet when it is so tempting and may help me quit for good in the future.

I have lost count how much money I have lost from betting In total way over 65k, the good thing is I am still only 28 and work in a stable full time job with apart from paying off family debt u have very little overheads so I am young enough to recover from this.

I really hope I can do it this time as surely I an running out of lives!