Tough temptations!

Hi. Well you have a goal to aim at i.e. not gambling during the Cheltenham Festival and if you can achieve that then it's going to be a big boost for you. Personally I would avoid it totally. It is only 4 afternoons, plan what you will do instead. How do you avoid temptation now? I loved horse racing as well but at least it is easier to avoid than other forms of gambling that are available 24 hours a day.

Sounds like you need to re-read that book or get a new one. You are already feeding your addiction following odds, reading form, continue to do that another bet is inevitable its just a matter of time. Give yourself a chance brother

Hi Half-Life,

I myself was exclusivly a horse racing punter and I have not gambled for 12 days now. Speaking specifically about your situation I am intrigued that you look at racing and bookies pages and odds. I have completly withdrew myself from this. I am strong at the moment, no urges just shame in how I fell for this cruel disease and also for the human aspect which is these bookmakers etc advertising and pushing these events, to them a £ is a £ no matter where it comes from a first time gambler or a compulsive gambler and business is business so why not? You have to equip yourself more for the fight, at the minute my friend you are on the ropes, gambling is punching you and if you keep up the temptations it will have you back on the canvas before long.

b*****r/*****/ w**********l etc are no different from Apple Mac or IBM. They are corporations who have to make more money each year, they have to report to their share holders about profits and hand out dividends. They do this only one way and that is people losing their money and major events like Cheltenham are there bread and butter. Very competative racing where its harder to predict a winner than ever.

This may or may not help in changing and controling your behaviour but I am at the stage where I am angered I was so foolish to fall for this, not only money but time and stress etc its not worth it and you will lose.

Simple thing now to do is not look at the racing full stop. I had done a lot of work on Cheltenham, I know all about the Mullins horses and the Gold cup etc. I have my fancies etc etc but I am stearing clear.

Its hard graft and for such a young man (i am 36, I remeber being 25) dont be so hard on your self, we are all just learning how to live our lives the best way possible. Keep talking and dont look at those horses, find something else to do.

Be Strong.

Mike

Could you make a decision not to buy/read newspapers, racing post etc for the week.

When watching the tv news just flick over when they come to sport and dont listen to the commentry on radio plus dont watch it on tv of course. Its only 4 days. Sounds a lot but basically try to ignore its even on.

Andy

Thanks for your input all. I'm going to have another read of the book. I agree with all you guys that looking at the odds is 'playing with fire' and decided that that has to stop! It's the beginning of a bad series off events. I'm determined not to get back into the slump and hope to get through cheltenham without a bet! Also thanks for your input Mike, the horses have been my problem for the last few years (probley because I convinced myself I was an expert and made horse racing a massive part off my life, thus making it harder to quit). But with the 'finding something else to do'. That's where I have trouble. I have recently re-started playing football again and enjoying free time with my partner and young daughter but I find it really hard to stay occupied through all my free time, get bored and end up scrolling through horse markets knowing this is a crazy and reckless thing to do as I'm doing so well to quit! MUST REMEMBER there is no such thing as just one bet and there is no way I can bet during the 4 days of cheltenham and then quit again as if it never happened.

Thanks again, the input is really appreciated

Adam

Hi all.
Looking at this tread, it looks like 2 years and 2 months have passed since I last logged on. As you'd probably guess, I have been betting ever since. I dread to think how much money I have lost in the mean time. I have a very good job with good pay and have absolutely nothing to show for it and no money to my name. Last night I finally thought enough was enough. I have put together an action plan i really hope will work. I have handed all finances over to my partner who is thoroughly pi***d off now (we get married in 2 weeks!) I have self excluded myself from all accounts and I have made arrangements to rejoin local sports teams. I was once a handy footballer until my addiction took over and I wanted to spend every minute of spare time watching football and horse racing I had bets on! Thus leaving no time for hobbies. After so many attempts at quiting I know what needs to be done, I just need to make sure I can do it for longer than 3-4 months, this is usually when I fail and get back into the cycle of betting away all my wages each month. I intent to be 100% honest with my partner. I have told her not to give me any money without a very valid reason, if she is not 100% sure I have a genuine reason for the money I have told her to come with me for the intended purchase. I believe the only way I can beat this addiction is if I have no ways to get my hands on any money. I just hope this works for the sake of my health, my future wife's health and for our future marriage.

Hi Adam eddy.

It looks as thought you are finally beginning to see gambling for the irresponsible and addicted act that it is.

Now you can start the journey and reach out with openness and honesty. You will build the knowledge that it can be made history but you must never be complacent.

Your mind needs time to heal so the finances must be out of your control for a long time. Any bills that need paying you do it together. If you need a shirt you provide the receipt and indeed more evidence of what you have done with your day.

When ready to stop this will come as a great relief to you. Its not ever the money that really made me happy.

You are on a learning journey about how powerful that addiction was. I know I wasnt in my right mind in 2015...I almost cant believe it was me that did that.

Recovery will grant you the serenity to realise it may always be within you but can be controlled and beaten. I dont think of wanting to gamble at all now. However I know that stress or depression could possibly spark me if in a strange environment. I work through thoise scenarios and talk about them. I extend blocks wherever I may be working regularly...not because Im scared but more as a matter of pride....I walk in and make sure its shut down and self excluded. I dont want gambling in my life

You must continue to work on and extend these blocks. Its also a good idea to have a check up with the doctor and go on any counselling you can arrange

So a great move and best wishes from everyone on the forum

Hi Joydivider.
Thanks for the post. I love reading peoples success stories. I notice that in the vast majority of them people will discribe how happy they are since quitting but also very wary of the underlying addiction and how it is something they know they will have to battle with for the rest of there lives but that if it can be controlled a happy life can be led.
During the times when i am avoiding all forms of betting and quit the habit for whatever period, i can see how stupid and reckless i have been. Today i look at my life and think how happy i could be. I love my fiance and my 2 year old daughter more than anything, i love my job which i am successful at and am now on a good salary, i live in a lovely part of the world with a great community and some really good close friends, im physically fit and healthy and a good sportsman. I look at my life and genuinly think it would be perfect if it wasnt for this horrible addiction. At times i gamble so recklessly i lose all control of who i am, what is important and stop doing other things i enjoy and what is good for me and my family. I spiral into depression, dont sleep and take my feelings out on the people i love. Yet something always brings me back. I know the steps that need to be put in place and i know myself that more importantly than anything i need someone to fully control my finances, hopefully ive put the systems into place that i cant even get my hands on £20 without my partner knowing. I also know that i need to find out what it is that keeps bringing me back to the gambling, ive been to therapy in the past and have found it helpful, but i have never worked out the real reason why i gamble? All i do know, is that how distructive it is and how, whatever youd label me or my personality as, it does not mix with gambling. Gambling simply has to be something "I dont do anymore". That is what i tell myself. Whenever old trigger points arise, i just tell myself these 3 things.

"Gambling is something i dont do anymore"

"I am unable to have a happy life and gamble"

"I suffer from depression due to gambling, i dont gamble because of depression"

This is my mantra. Wish me luck.