Well that didn't take long!

I would repeat my comments in your previous thread.

CW

Hi Nm and welcome back , just read your thread and yeah , Ouch !! . You know we'll bet on anything when we're in chase the losses mode and lose all sense of what's rational , that's just what we do as desperate CG's . You've done the right thing with the self exclusions but you know they can be got around so you need also to look at someone controlling your finances as well , I think it might be a good idea to come clean with your partner and let them take control , it's not easy I know but it's going to make you more accountable and not just to yourself , she's not going to be pleased but you have to face things and be open and honest as our gambling thrives on secrecy my friend . The money's gone and you really have to accept that more than anything in order to move forward from this , just let it go , stop chasing and enjoy life . 6k is a lot but over time can be earned and replaced but your life can't ! I wish you well my friend , keep posting and let us know how you're getting on ! Best wishes .....Alan

Thank you for the kind words & advice, Alan! I'll definitely be taking them onboard bud...

Hi CW, I do remember your comments in my previous thread - you were 100% right in what you said. I still feel like I'm fairly new to this kind of gambling, i.e. big stakes. I've gone through a rollercoaster of emotions in a very short space of time! This has really taken over my life without me properly realising until my massive losses occur.

I'm going to tell other people, either my mum/partner. I've also today got in touch with Breakeven counselling after an online chat.

I feel like I've really let myself down thinking I could go it alone.

NM

Hey Mate, look you haven't let anyone down , we try things and if they don't work then we try a different approach and well done you on coming back and trying something new . Your doing all the right stuff and by looking at the last post it sounds like a good plan to me , stay positive buddy and things will come right again , it just takes a bit of time for the fog of a gambling binge to lift !.

Take care !

Hello nm.

I read your other thread you see with football betting anything could happen you could bet on a dead certain team to win and they draw.. It's crazy!

People told me in the past only bet small fun amounts on football on acc's, bet big your a fool. I never listened! £500 on 2 teams lost

£500 on a double again lost it continued until I was £1500 down after 2 days this was only last weekend.

Lost thousands over the year iv had enough now. So I'm quitting all together. I wouldn't suggest scratch cards or even the lottery just knock it on the head completely if I was you.

Good luck pal

Bbman91 wrote:

Hello nm.

I read your other thread you see with football betting anything could happen you could bet on a dead certain team to win and they draw.. It's crazy!

People told me in the past only bet small fun amounts on football on acc's, bet big your a fool. I never listened! £500 on 2 teams lost

£500 on a double again lost it continued until I was £1500 down after 2 days this was only last weekend.

Lost thousands over the year iv had enough now. So I'm quitting all together. I wouldn't suggest scratch cards or even the lottery just knock it on the head completely if I was you.

Good luck pal

Thank you mate, that's what I indeed to do! Good luck to yourself also 🙂

I was planning on starting an online diary but shall keep that on the back burner for now...

I've woke this morning feeling like an empty shell - I confessed to a loved one which was a major stepping stone for me, early stages but I'm sure this will help.

I brought a morning paper, flicked to the back page and lo & behold, bombarded with sports betting adverts, probably not the best thing to do the way I'm feeling right now :

I do feel so much better will my bans in place now tho. I was lying in bed thinking, & regreting, the day I put, which was then a big amount to me, a £14 winning bet on a football match last September - so I guess in the space of less than 7 months this evil addiction has grabbed me literally by the balls, showed me a very weak side of my personality & cost me a hell of a lot of cash.

March 10th 2016. Officially my 'Day 1' GF, second attempt, but it's most definitely onwards & upwards from here!

Wishing all a pleasant day, NM

Hi NF,

Your story sounds like mine, but I suppose everyone on here as we are all addicted in different ways. I was sport betting, all online, big stakes so of course big debts. You can always read my thread and diary. I've only been on here just over 3 weeks, but in that time I've been bet free (my last bet hurt bad and hopefully kicked my recovery into action), I've told my wife I'm an addict and need help, plus all the credit card debt (very difficult but she's been really understanding), then attended my first two GA meetings which I honestly recommend. Not told anyone else, my dad was/still is a gambler, I know my mum's been hurt by it, god knows what debts he may have but he's 80 this year and lives in his own home so maybe he changed his ways or his stakes! So telling my mum would probably kill her with her bad heart. Friends, no matter how good they are don't need to know in my eyes. It's my addiction that's caused the problems and financial headaches the wife and I must sort out, that's why nobody else needs to know. (Some may agree, some may not).

Early days for me but I need to stay focused, my mind occupied and control my stress levels at work and home.

Good luck whatever you decide.........and well done for coming back to this forum.

*

Hey Shep72 + MrGold, both great posts & thank you for sharing your experiences with me.

First thing I did this morning was to check my online banking...OUCH!!! Today was the day all the £ had disappeared, a feeling I wouldn't wish on anyone. A feeling I'm going to make sure I'll be experiencing for the very LAST time! The way I looked at it was, if it was coming in & not going out, I'm sure over time I'd be putting it all straight back into the sports betting industry, convinced I could continue a winning streak or something like that. So in the longrun it's saved me the hassle & misfortune of even more gambling heartbreak & stress, goodbye forever money!

Your health is indeed the most important thing in life, MrGold. Without that you do have absolutely nothing. I may look into setting up a small charity monthly donation - good call 🙂 I have found myself being more generous to street charities/beggers since my gambling has become more of a problem. What was a few quid here & there when I'm playing with hundreds, if not thousands, online.

Day 2 for me & my gut feeling of losing the money is still SO hard to take but one I'm sure I'll except as times passes! It's crazy, all the amazing things us gamblers could do with the money we squander, the mind boggles...

I'm going to be enjoying a weekend with loved ones, trying to switch off altogether from the Saturday football 'what might have beens' etc. Wasted far too much precious time worrying about the next goal, how many minutes left, under/over 2.5 goals, looking out for that price boost, making a quick few quid on the virtuals, the list goes on...

As I said, early but positive days for myself. Wishing all forum users a happy Friday. Also a safe, pleasent & GF weekend.

All the best, NM

Hi, Shep,

All sounds positive, keep up the good work. Definitely agree that family time is really important.

BW,

CW

Sorry, apologies for bad manners, posting to Shep on the wrong thread.

Glad to see you've told a loved one, NM, definitely a step in the right direction. Stay safe.

CW

Hi NM,

Hope you get the time to do a diary. I'd like to follow your recovery. Have a great weekend with family & friends and stay bet free. Cheers.

I think your really brave coming back and having another go. Braver yet for telling a loved one. Yesterday was my first day free of the self abusive behaviour, knowing I wouldn't have to wake up and check the damage i'd done. Your progress will help this of us recovering at the same time. I've never really understood 'one day at a time' and why people cling to it so fervently. I do now. Every day is a small victory and looking backwards or forwards is no help until our habits are changed.

Thank you for the kind & encouraging comments above guys 🙂

Well it's fast approaching 'Day 7' GF once again - not so much had the urge to bet this time round, just feeling so angry still for letting myself get sucked into this game to lose the money which I have done, it's hurting me inside, & hurting pretty d**n bad.

As this is my second attempt, I am feeling so much better tho in the fact I've taken different measures, the self-exclusion / closing accounts / opening up to a loved one, these are steps I feel are helping MASSIVELY!

Enjoyed a really fun family filled weekend gone, taking in some footie along the way mind you - just trying to appreciate it for what it is, not a bloody money making (or in my case, losing) scheme...

Lucky enough I'm not in a debt situation as I stand today, and that's the way I aim to keep it.

There really is no escaping the 'gambling culture' nowadays - turn on the TV, open a daily newspaper, walk down the high street, it's being rammed down our throats, in a big way. That fact is making me a little angry inside also.

Oh well, it's getting late, best stop moaning & get some shuteye!

Wishing one & all good luck, be strong, be happy. NM