How do you fight the urge

The way I fight the urge now is to notice I have the urge to want to gamble and try to watch that feeling disappear. It’s difficult to not fall into it but it can be done. 

Posted by: @nutty2

I have had a more serious problem since Feb last year. 
I raked up over 20 grand of debt. Worked 6 days a week 12 hour shifts to try and pay it off. Every time I got somewhere id end up adding another few grand to it. 
In may luck seemed to have been on my side I managed to win enough to pay off the 17 grand on my credit cards and have some money in the bank. 
Was such a good feeling knowing I was debt free. At one point I had a further 13 grand I had won. You know how it went though. That got blown before I even withdrew any of it. 
I have now gotten my credit cards (money transfer offers) back up to about 9. My credit rating has gone up so even though I closed all the other ones I can now apply for new ones. 

Apart from self including etc I can’t seem to get rid of the urge this time. Between last night and today I have blown over 3 grand on nothing. Wages for the month are away already and more money transfers and a maxed out credit card. Again. 

Once the urge goes I’m fine. But anybody any tips on how they fought the urge. 
I don’t even think I do it for the winning. I think I’m more happier when I lose. 

Spend as much time with your loved ones as possible I've just stopped 4 days ago and I no how hard it is 

Hi

you have described me when I get that urge nothing can stop me

i have thought about it and have realised that it's the thrill and excitement I need not the winning of the money, I'm on 3 days without gambling and have sat all day today thinking about what I can do when that urge comes, it looks like we both need advice, sorry not really helpful to you

Thanks guys. 
Tomorrow is day one for me. Again. 
Writing this down and admitting it has lifted a weight. 
Just need to get through a day at a time! 

You struck a chord with me when you talked about how you may even be happier when you lose. This has happened to me in the past. It is so weird. You feel a sense of relief that it is over. I don't gamble much any more because I have heavy blocks in place- I have no credit or debit cards, I have no access to my wages, they only go to pay bills, I can only control urges by not allowing myself to have access to money. In the last five years I can honestly say that i have not spent one cent of my wages on gambling , but this is only because I have no access to it!. I have spent money on gambling but very small amounts, which comes from cash tips I receive at work or money I find, which I consider free money and deem it ok to gamble with. But I know I shouldn't even do that. 

The thing that helps me is to think of happiness. I have learned that happiness does not come from external events (like winning) but comes from within. Each day I tell myself that I am happy and happiness seems to come from nowhere, it is strange but it works. You can program your mind to be happy with what you have instead of longing for something more. The gambling urges diminish when I do this. Best wishes. 

In my mind, boredom and the urge to gamble come together.

Take up a hobby or go for long walks to get the adrenaline pumping again should make you happy. Day 1 for me tomorrow before i start to spiral down that slippy slope of ruining my life. i will start by deleting and blocking these gambling sites so that the urge isnt there before going out and seeing what the world is like outside for a few hours.

i hate the person i have become now from the bloke i used to be. i used to walk for miles and play football and cricket but due to my shift patterns and tiredness i dont do any of that anymore. so a lot of my time im just sat at home, apart from the usual household chores, and gamble if i have the money too. im due to go on holiday soon but due to gambling it all away i now have no money to take with me but hopefully i can look back on this as an experience that i want to forget and move forward.

Well today was a failure. 
day one tomorrow for me also. 
iv just worked out how much I need to pay a month and have my debt cleared in 21 months. I’m so annoyed with myself. 
I defo agree with the boredom. That is prob the main factor for me. 

Hello Nutty and Welcome

You need to let lots of reality into your life. Please tell your family and start getting your money protected

You are confused as we all were. Luck?? You talk about the ups and downs but its simply a mugs game as you must realise by now

Buy the book Jackpot by Rob Davies which is an excellent expose of how they have been mugging you off

Get miffed very miffed because there is a long chapter on all the names making billions and millions from people like you

14 BILLION ARE THE ANNUAL LOSSES BY BRITISH GAMBLERS!

THE GOVERNMENT TAKE 15% TAX ON THAT.........WORK IT OUT plus all the lobbying handouts and other perks

It's not an income scheme for mug punters

People are called problem gamblers but the reality is that GAMBLING IS AN ADDICTIVE PRODUCT creating a drug addiction

You are not fine until you enter a proper recovery and realise that's no complacency for a lifetime. You have much to learn until you get more serious about it. Those figures you give are horrendous losses and its called gambling because there is absolutely no guarantee or scheme to get a penny back

I'm not trying to sound over harsh. I'm trying to wake you up into stopping right now because I care

Best wishes to be gamble free when you will actually have some money!