1 week on and I have done it again!

Hi Pedro

Don't beat yourself up. It is very hard to have the willpower not to gamble. I have been nearly 2 months in recovery and had a near miss today.

Can you get yourself excluded from the bookies so that temptation is taken away? I know it seems embarrassing but not as bad as spoiling a good night out by going home early broke (is that not embarrassing?). I have missed so many occasions over the years due to the big G. One moment of embarrassment against many moments of time with friends etc. No contest really.

You are stronger than you think.

Elfie x

I have stopped 4 8 weeks and it's slowly creeping back in2 my life! Feel like I have lost control of the addiction again. And don't feel like I have the power 2 do it again. Yes I did feel ashamed goin early but alls I could think about when was with my friends was the money id lost and how disappointed in myself I was!

Pedro - you do have the willpower to stop gambling - you did it for eight weeks and you can do it again. You say that you feel sick and disappointed with yourself - think how much worse this would be if you continue with the gambling. You are not alone in this - we have all felt weak at some time in our recovery.

The fact that you have come back on site and have explained your feelings shows that you do want to stop. OK, you have gambled today, but that does not mean that you have to continue. It might also be a good idea to try to avoid any future situations where you are likely to be tempted - boredom is a great danger for the compulsive gambler, so try to take some evading action. If you are waiting for your friends again, walk into a Starbucks instead of the bookies. Often if we can analyse why we gamble or in which situations, we can change certain habits which get us into this compulsive behaviour.

So take heart - you can beat this!

Best wishes,

Joanna

Hi Pedro I know how you feel completely and this is a big problem for me too

But at the end of the day, which I now tell myself over and overm what are you going to actually win?

The best thing you can do is stop and stop now, you can enjoy spending time with your friends and enrich you life...

Gambling just isn't going to do it, even the jackpots, in reality aren't that big in comparison to the amount you loose.

Pick yourself up and focus on enriching your life, friends, hobbies, all the money you can channel into useful things

Hi mate I totally sympathise with you. I get paid every Friday and I hate it. Unlike you I do it online.my daughter who is three will fall asleep then I just put the racing on and empty my account. Every Saturday I need to lend money off sumone even though I have a good job.

I have done it a million and one times last year I was on a stag do, nipped off for one football bet and lost all my weekends money.

My round in the pub couldn't even pay for the drinks until my dad sent me money to bail me out.

Some of my friends calling me a loser really hurt.

I am really struggling myself at the minuite and after two weeks free I have gone Bezerk over the last three weeks.

My advice if I can offer any would be to get a taxi direct to the location or share one wit a friend whic is better. This way you won't be tempted to go in the bookies for the cost or embarrassment to being with a friend.

I hate bookies with a passion and every time I walk through a town centre and see them or advertising between games it makes me so angry.

If you have to gamble I would set urself a limit of say 20.00 a week and ask a close friend or partner to put it on. Let them collect any winnings and involve them in it.

Never walk in to a bookies when you have a drink, this has destroyed me countless times. Leaving with not even my bus fare home and that horrible dark place where you feel like nobody understands.

I want to get help and although I gamble online I try never to go In to a shop, all them different screens.

Virtual this, imaginary that and machines they are parasites.

The weird thing is I used to work in a shop and I have saw what it does to families and people yet can't help myself.

Reading your posts and many others

Gambled , online and in bookies and on their clever roulette machines , Bingo Halls , scratch , cards , lottery lost 100,000 s / since the age of 16 introduced to it at a young age starting seaside 1 penny slot machines and perhaps board games Monopoly etc perhaps this may sound mad but something started the self destructive habit ?

I feel i had to help i have stopped for a few months now and like everyone else and have even ended up living in a tent briefly , ruined countless relationships but the urge has gone ! why

The major problem started in my mid thirties my brother had a bad problem with gambling i used to have big rows with him although prior to my mid thirties i did smaller amounts and no problem .

I moved to Brighton started to attend greyhound racing , casino s and eventually the roulette machines in the shops the problem habit was here lost a weeks wages and even monthly wages and maxed credit cards up etc etc .

first time relapsed

First time i or in this case with the girlfriend we gave it up !

For over a year it felt so good to have money until we lapsed on holiday in a pub bingo game we must of won many times then got home had a go at bingo in Brighton then back in the bookies and the rest !

2nd time On my own 6 months re lapsed

3rd time gave my debit card to new girlfriend you do get through relationships they deserve better than you but it helps you not losing all your money your wife or husband or partner can hold your card give you a bit of cash and ask whats its for you may or may not lie and with your mood swings at least wont be skint and lose all the family s money ! .

relapse 4 time

I always thought if i ever got my card back i would be destroyed and with the no self control and i would max my card out oh yes i have the card back now and i am single again of course ! Poor girl gambled 100 luckily after this not again for a while ? .

relapse 5

My brother visits with his problem even with me moaning again and later i lapse 120 but not my last 50 in bank thank god .

Relapse 6 not as yet why

Lost interest totally in any form of gambling why

Not been preached to or influenced by a door knocker or online scare tactics !

I actually asked for the help of god in a quiet moment ! my urge , compulsion , calling to have a bet has gone ? things are going so well i never been so happy i know this is my last chance i have been given a reprieve i have interest in the church i have never practiced or attended a church prior this much just visited ,

I had a unhealthy evil interest its has gone i still go to football on match-days I enjoy the game and don't bet at matches anymore so i enjoy the game better and with my friends with out a bet !

hope this helps i will not relapse as i have the fear of god

Stay focused Pedro and take each day at a time,be strong and tell yourself how well you are doing,self belief is a great healer,you can do it.