Day 2 just lost 15 quid before I got out of bed....

There comes a time we all have urges some staright away and some after months/years... stay positive its how u recover from a set back and how you react to it, youve reacted in the right way in sending the email to get your account closed so well done for that.

Stay strong and believe in yourself

Hi Braingriffin,

I've replied to your post on new members.

Take Care Now.

Thanks for the messages, this is such a great place. I've read some posts from other diaries and feel really inspired. It's good to know I'm not alone and there really is some great advice to beat this.

So I am on day two again. Woke up and it was the first thing I thought about. I went on to a site to play the free game but did not deposit, I have plans to play with another bonus code this evening but will NOT deposit. There is no point me self-excluding I just open more accounts. I need to get control back and for me it has to be a choice, if the only reason I stop is lack of funds or opportunity then way down the line I will relapse. For me this journey is about taking control back and no longer being a slave to this addiction.

Have a great day everyone xxx

Another tenner, but got entry to two free rooms tomorrow and Sat so not going to deposit just try and keep to them. Usually I would of played a lot today instead only a bit this evening so counting as success

Ten pound today but that was this am. Do feel like I just like playing, problem is I don't have the time nor the money. Played a free room tonight and came away without depositing which is a major victory for me. Next free game Saturday so not quite sure how that will work but going to try hard to keep to superbooks if I feel the need.

hope you're all winning this battle today xxx

Keep up the good work, no1 can tell you the right way to stop you need to work thay out for yourself which is what you are doing, all i would advise is to be careful its good your only doing the free games but as much as they can give you the 'fix' you need to keep you no gambling properly there will always be that temptation there to deposit money, would you have deposited if you wasnt playing the free games or needing to qualify for the free games. I understand the small steps your taking in stopping and thats good that you feel positive about it, i just worry that temptation is always just a weak moment away.

All the best

Thanks brownie your right, another tenner tonight but I didn't waste the day and it's only in the last half hour before bed that I weakened. I am going to have to do a full abstinence but not sure how or when.

The best advice i can give his self exclude yourself from your sites or even bookmakers if you use them. My main problem was online betting and I've had to self exclude from virtually every website i could find from bingo to bookies, everytime i open one i end up blowing money and then excluding. I tried bingo now and again when i gave up sports betting, won my first games then all of a sudden was putting 10 a day on with no return. Its hard to do but if you take the option away then you can no longer do that. Try finding different books etc to read i found autobiographys about celebs that have gambled or gambling self help books helped me before bed. Sadly im at the stage where i have lost control again but i no with the right help and following steps i have taken before i can get it back to where it needs to be.

All the best keep me posted

You're not sure when to do a full abstinence? The answer to that question is now. You're on a gambling recovery site for a reason, time to remove it completely from your life.

I know deep down you're right, it's ridiculous I'm so attached to it. I don't understand it at all.

Good luck Brownie, it's hard and you're not alone.

It is hard but its doable, ive now made sure all my online accounts are close and i have self excluded myself from my local bookies, take away the option you take away some of the problem, small steps on a long road

Braingriffin wrote:

I know deep down you're right, it's ridiculous I'm so attached to it. I don't understand it at all.

It is a parasite that will eat you up totally if you let it. It pretends to be a friend but its the worst enemy you can have. A lot of people are scared to stop because it means they have to face the problems that got them started gambling in the first place. You're not attached to it, you only think you are.

Thanks you're right I have to remove it from my life - day 3 today, k9 as a browser and if I feel the urge I will spend the time self excluding!