This needs to stop

Hello Rhi,

Welcome to the forum and well done for posting your introduction.

You will find many of our forum members can identify with your story as they have had similar struggles. Some of our forum members have been working a stable recovery for years, so they are evidence that change is possible and improvements can be made and sustained. Our forum members often discuss their recovery methods, like self-exclusion and blocking software:

http://www.gamcare.org.uk/get-advice/what-can-you-do/blocking-software

As you've mentioned debt, I thought I would signpost you to our links page which has details of several free debt advice services:

http://www.gamcare.org.uk/about-us/links-other-support-agencies

If you'd like some local support with managing your drinking, you could talk with your GP about that.

If you'd like free therapy to support for recovery from problem gambling, you can call us on 0808 8020 133 or our netline for details of local and online counselling services.

Please feel welcome to start a diary in our 'Recovery diaries' section, and join our live group chats if you like.

Take care,

Forum admin.

Hi saff96 please see my post do I tell all! I'm now 10 days free like yourself I loved the slots I also could win but I wanted more! So most of the time cancelled withdrawals to win BIG!!! Never happened and never will. 2 weeks ago won 1600 promised myself I wouldn't withdraw as desperately needed that money in my bank!! But cancelled every last penny and lost the lot looking back that was the best thing that could of happened! Hit rock bottom confessed all to my partner debts gambling the lot - yes I expected to split up through it but he shocked me by being so supportive even if he hadn't I was mentally free I'd told someone and that made me wake up I was gambling to pay debts then borrowing to pay the gambling, lied, virtually begged family for loans etc never stole but who knows how far I would of gone. I've forgot about the losses they can keep it I've got my life back thank god- please try to speak to someone it does help - good luck

Hello Rhi.

Your situation is very similar to mine. Almost identical. First of all, give yourself a couple hours (I'd say grab your laptop and stick on a film in the background, and get comfy on the sofa) - start by writing down a list of every negative thing that has some from gambling. Feel free to incorporate anything else in your life that is a bit rubbish at the moment. Now that list is all your emotions on a physical piece of paper you can see - trust me it helps to refer to.

Now - get some practial blocks in place. These will not stop the urges, but they may restrict you from being able to gamble. I would do the following:

• Get blocking software asap. Gamban is a good one - it's VERY cheap (£9 a year) and VERY effective. There are also others offered on this forum. These run in the background of your computer and block any access to gambling. Gamban is very good as it's impossible to uninstall and it runs so silent so nobody could ever know why it's on your computer. I must note - a decent blocker is not yet available for mobile. You might have to take drastic action such as removing your ability to use internet etc using child filters etc.
• Look into ways of restricting your finance. Some people use more drastic solutions - it's up to you. Personally, I cancelled all my direct debits and on payday morning (eg. 7am - without fail - you HAVE to be strict here), I pay all my bills via faster payments. Some companies don't really like it but tough. Then I transfer a big chunk of money to my debt company and a big chunk to a savings account which I opened in branch - so it's just a savings book type thing. So in order to withdraw money I have to go to town and into branch - I'm hardly going to go through all that just to satisfy a craving am I? The rest of the money I withdraw as cash when I'm filling up my car with petrol.
• Schedule your life. This stops those moments when you aren't doing anything and it can creep up on you. Look into doing exercise or any activities etc. Again - it's what suits you.
• Come on here! This is such a huge help for me and acts as a blocker because I get to talk to so many incredible people on a daily basis.

I hope this helps. Best of luck.

Hi,

Fellow Slot addict...please see my diary for a frank memoir of how awful this is. I am currently 16 days clean...