One of the things I struggle most with is a reason to stop. I dont have many hobbies and nothing really fills the 'void' of gambling. However, I have found something really useful which I thought I would share.
As we are all gamblers, the intention every time we bet is to win money. Based on this, I decided to add up how much I had lost over the course of 2 and a bit years. Or to be precise, the last 1000 days. In this period, I lost £7004.50. I thought it would be less than this alhough I am sure everyone can equate to the feeling of it not being as bad as we think?
This loss has come about as the result of 8/9 periods or relapses or gambling sessions. I havent bet everyday out of the 1000 days and each session usually lasted until I had lost enough money to make me feel suitably depressed. I have stopped and started, stopped and started which again, I am sure is pretty familiar sound for most people.
Anyway, the motivation I now use is that the £7004 breaks down to losing £7 every single day, £50 every week and just over £200 every single month. For that reason, and because I am a gambling addict, I am now able to feel that for every day I dont gamble, I win £7. For every week I stay away, I win £50 and for every year, I save myself about 3 grand. I like the odds and it gives me a lift everyday to get through another day/week/month.
I dont know if anyone else would find this useful but I thought I'd share it. Its not a lot of money everyday but the idea of not giving somebody else £7 I have earned has been pretty useful and is strong reminder of why I wanted to continue not gambling. It's the best odds I have ever backed
Hello Craig16,
Thanks for sharing something you have found useful for your motivation. It seems as though looking back and calculating your spending over a long time frame has helped you to attain a sobering perspective that supports your motivation to take better care of your money, and to do what you can to avoid that pattern of spending reoccurring.
You mention 'The void' that you can experience in the absence of gambling. It could be worthwhile for your recovery to reflect on that too, and maybe to discuss it with your peers here or with others who are supporting your recovery. When people let go of an addiction, they can encounter uncomfortable feelings at times, like emptiness, boredom, loneliness, grief, or feeling a bit lost and disorientated... these temporary feelings are ordinarily fleeting but if they become persistent then you might consider using the emotional support of a therapist, or talking with your GP. You're welcome to talk with a GamCare adviser too on 0808 8020 133 for any recovery related concerns.
Thanks again for your helpful post on what motivates you.
Take care,
Adam.
Nice one Craig16 - Great reverse psychology there. Using your method, I'm up £8 a day 🙂
/
We are available 24 hours a day, every day of the year. You can also contact us for free on 0808 80 20 133. If you would like to find out more about the service before you start, including information on confidentiality, please click below. Call recordings and chat transcripts are saved for 28 days for quality assurance.
