Mate that sounds so much like me it's crazy. I'm off today though getting car sorted then enjoying sunshine 🙂
I remember times walking back into the office from a 'toilet break' where I'd lost the eqivalent of a weeks wage. Didn't want to look, talk to or interact with anyone. Other times I'm sitting at my desk watching the phone hidden just below the keyboard hoping tor no more goals, heart 300 bpm with a grand or more on the line. I swear how I haven't had a heart attack yet I don't know! Even now less than a week since I last did that I can see how insane it all is.
I've been very lucky that gambling hasn't affected my work so much that I've got into trouble over it. I don't think my collegues have any idea or if they do they dont mention it.
Anyway I'm off to enjoy the sunshine, looks like the car is sorted (hopefully!)
Sam - I'm hoping its strengthened our hearts through all the over working they've been given!
Hope everyone has had a good Friday and is ready for the weekend!
Don't know why this guy makes me laugh so much - it's good to have a laugh
211 to go... I'll make a longer post later today but just wanted to check in for now
Hi change, thanks for your post on my diary Just read over your post here and sounds good what you're doing I'll defiantly follow it though I'm determined to never gamble again in my life have what short time away from it I have has made me see more damage its done to my life than I first thought. But here's to the the future not going to dwell on the past...
211 days to go and that will nearly be 210 days...
Welcome aboard Rylex - great to have you joining us.
I wanted to post about other addictions today. I found that gambling for me brought on other harmful addictions. The first thing I'd do after a big loss was go and buy a packet of cigs. I only really used to smoke on a big night out but gambling definitely made me smoke much more... as I was always losing. I also found that I'd drink much more when gambling. I guess just the stress of everything made me reach for cigs and booze.
So although i'm principally dealing with complusive gambling... I'm also finding myself dealing with milder forms of tobacco and alcohol addiction.
Did anyone else find that gambling made them addictive in other aspects of life? Or since quitting gambling has that vice been replaced with another vice and how are you dealing with that?
Have a great night everyone.
Im on board ladies and gents.
My last bet was friday after a 20 year stint of throwing good money after bad and Im hoping I can beat the urge to bet again.
Can defo relate to neglecting everyday jobs around the house so this week Im going to fill my time giving the house a once over.
Welcome mr head! I've neglected chores and life for so long. Even enjoy doing some washing up these days. Couldn't face watching Roland Garros today which is sad as I am a fan of tennis but hey ho better than getting lured into a bet.
Change wrote:
Welcome mr head! I've neglected chores and life for so long. Even enjoy doing some washing up these days. Couldn't face watching Roland Garros today which is sad as I am a fan of tennis but hey ho better than getting lured into a bet.
The Euro's next week will be a struggle as i was looking forward to having a punt on them as i love a bet on the football but i dont want to risk losing anymore money.
Still on board. Busy couple of days and almost a week GF so it's all good!
Mr Head - you can't get on the Euros so you need to get that out of your head mr head.
Sam - well done pal!
210 to go and nearly 209 to go...
Lot of people commenting on the forums about the Euros so I feel we need to get prepared for this major event. The first stage is to take a step back from the sports pages, the sports channels and the sports radio. That's a really tough thing to do and I know people will feel like their missing out but c'mon it's one event and its a tough event so just try your very best to not load up that page or click on to that channel. I am a massive sports fan and football in particular but I honesty could not tell you what the first match is and I have no idea who are in Englan's group other than Wales. The reason for this is I have made a conscious effort to avoid this tournment as I don't want to get sucked into the following thinking... "oh X are playing Y... that's a good game but I think X will win and they'll be over 2.5 goals for sure"... next thing that happens is I'm on oddschecker looking at the odds. At that stage I am 90% of the way to betting. I've made a selection. I've checked the odds. So my mind will thinking if I back out now and it wins I will have lost out on a payday so I better place a bet or I'm going to miss out. My mind isn't going to be thinking it could lose, quite the opposite... all avenues will be leading me to a lost opportunity if I don't place the bet. The easiest part is then finding the cash and finding the bookies.
So please all who have a problem with sports betting... please please please try and avoid the hysteria around the event and just tune into the matches on TV after they've started.
209 to go...
Sorry for late post today. I've been travelling around a lot today.
Few good posts made by other forumites of a typical day by a compulsive gambler. Really highlighted the feelings that people do not want to experience again.
It's so difficult to write down irrational behaviour as it makes no sense but when you're in the moment you're operating on auto pilot and there's no pause to think. There's just a sinking feeling after the final loss, the forced smile in front of your family as you try to hide a problem, the banging your head and disgust as you look in the mirror when you sneek off to gather your thoughts in the bathroom, the excuse as to why you don't want to go out for a meal that night, the hot sweats as you try to sleep, the realisation as you're eating your breakfast... that it's all happened again!
Let's not let it happen again!
The forced smiles in front of family, sneeking off to the bathroom to gather your thoughts. Oh how many times we have all been there! It really is no way to live but when we're in full flow in the midst of a bet it's difficult to comprehend anything other than the current bet. Everything else takes a back seat and we only re-visit real life when the bets are done for the day or in some cases when all the money is gone.
I had a bit of a scare this morning when I logged on to pay a credit card bill and It showed 'payment declined'. My heart skipped a beat for the first time since my last (unsuccessful) bet. I was 99% sure I had plenty of funds in my account but as I navigated to find out I kept wondering if I'd spent/lost more than I remembered. Turns out there was more than enough funds and I had just typed in a wrong digit somewhere. Still, it scared me a bit. I don't miss payments and haven't done for a long time.
The days are rolling on
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