Do you still try and gamble?

I don't, however I wouldn't trust myself to head into town with a load of cash. I don't even trust myself to drive past a bookies with cash or cards in my wallet.

I know in previous attempts to quit I would sometimes play the free versions of card games just to while away time- this despite racing & sports being 98%+ of my gambling habit. A case of "look at what you could have won".

Perhaps add one of the software blocks (Gamban) on all your devices.

No pretending that some days it is just plain hard.

We have spent a long time gambling and put it before family and work and life itself.

We need to break the cycle and change our mindset (counseling ?, GA ?)

Hi holycrosser,

Thank you for opening up this interesting topic.

In the early part of my recovery I found myself doing this and I believe it was because I still had desire to be in action rather than checking to see if I was actually banned from all sites. 

My journey in recovery has been very much focussed on my perception/relationship with myself and also how I interact with other people/life events. I found my gambling desire was driven by my emotional state and discontentment. The tools I learnt and continue to use keep me emotionally balanced so that the need to escape/gamble is no longer required. 

For the last few years I've had access to cards and cash but had no desire to gamble but this would not have been possible for the first 5yrs of my journey.

Kind regards.

I've tried to do it a couple of times, Ive put it down to idle curiosity but wonder if the blocks weren't in place if I'd relapsed.

I simply have no logic to why I even attempted it whatever the motive was.is my mind not willing to let go of the evil that is gambling?

Its trying to pull me back, I've no reason to gamble now, I know my path, a path I have to stay on.

Its food for thought and a big reminder you never beat this.

Thanks for the replies 

Hi Holy 

When I have tried to stop in the past I did this a lot. But I found once I confirmed  I couldn’t sign up to anywhere I kept on looking like a crazy woman for somewhere I could.

for me it was still the addict in me and I relapsed over and over again. 

We will always have it in us holy but that doesn’t mean you are bad for doing this, or that you are due for a relapse. Think of it as part of your journey and thank god the blocks are in place to keep you safe. 

You are an inspiration and add so much value here. 

Interesting topic.

I still find myself going onto a bookies website quite regularly. I don't know why I do it. I have no intention of gambling, I've never tried to log in (can't anyway thanks to gamstop), I've never tried to open a new account. I just scroll through looking at odds of footy matches, golf etc. Funnily enough it dosent even set off any urges.

Like I say I have no idea why I find myself doing it. There's no logic to it. Boredom maybe? Not sure

Posted by: Liveinhope35

Hi Holy 

When I have tried to stop in the past I did this a lot. But I found once I confirmed  I couldn’t sign up to anywhere I kept on looking like a crazy woman for somewhere I could.

for me it was still the addict in me and I relapsed over and over again. 

We will always have it in us holy but that doesn’t mean you are bad for doing this, or that you are due for a relapse. Think of it as part of your journey and thank god the blocks are in place to keep you safe. 

You are an inspiration and add so much value here. 

 

Thank you for the kind words.we are all here to support and share experiences. Keep fighting

Posted by: Gareth1983

Interesting topic.

I still find myself going onto a bookies website quite regularly. I don't know why I do it. I have no intention of gambling, I've never tried to log in (can't anyway thanks to gamstop), I've never tried to open a new account. I just scroll through looking at odds of footy matches, golf etc. Funnily enough it dosent even set off any urges.

Like I say I have no idea why I find myself doing it. There's no logic to it. Boredom maybe? Not sure

Yep this is exactly what I'm on about.i do it every now and again for no apparent reason, I think because I've done it for 30 years my mind just wont let go.

My plan is settled but as CG we are impatient always.

I signed up for Gamstop about 6/7 months ago. Isn’t it just fantastic. I have tried to register on new sites a couple of times but to no avail. Literally then forgot about it and moved on. That’s the whole idea of it and you can bask in the sunshine of having registered with Gamstop which prevents any further disasters. Add on the reduction to £2 a spin on the FOBT roulette which now makes them totally futile to play (were anyway) and life is good. 

There is absolutely no reason why everyone can’t register with Gamstop. Of course there’s still other avenues open to gamble but Gamstop closes one of the huge ones. 

Posted by: DaveUK

I signed up for Gamstop about 6/7 months ago. Isn’t it just fantastic. I have tried to register on new sites a couple of times but to no avail. Literally then forgot about it and moved on. That’s the whole idea of it and you can bask in the sunshine of having registered with Gamstop which prevents any further disasters. Add on the reduction to £2 a spin on the FOBT roulette which now makes them totally futile to play (were anyway) and life is good. 

There is absolutely no reason why everyone can’t register with Gamstop. Of course there’s still other avenues open to gamble but Gamstop closes one of the huge ones. 

I agree.its saved me on occasions