I am a gambling addict and have been for some time. I am like most GA's, my story would not be too different to anyones on here. I read the stories on this website and can feel the same pain and experience from the writer. I've had enough. I'm sure i will gamble again in the future i just couldn't imagine life without it, again like most people on her.
I need something that I can do, instead of gambling. Over the last few years gambling has become such a massive part of my life. If i were to stop there would be a massive hole in my life that I would need to fill.
Are there any suggestions that could help me? Maybe something that has helped you in the past? I have a girlfriend and go to the gym quite regularly, but if i were to quit there would still be a lot of spare time to fill.
I need help before i can move on with my life. I don't want to have a family and still be dragging this issue around with me, day in and day out.
Any suggestions or help would be greatly appreciated.
Hi ff25
Life without gambling is a life without stress, despair , mood swing, anger and countless lies
By stopping gambling I feel more mature, I can face my problem not just buried my head in the sand as I used to,II'm spending quality time with my family and more honest now
To fill that time I am now running 6 miles 3 per week, my runming help me focus , try to found an hobby ,do some charity work
I am 40 old and next september starting an accountancy courses those are just little things that helping me against this evil illness
Don't waste your life , there will be just one winner at the end and you know that please turn your back to gambling
Julio 106 days without a bet
Hi FF25,
Welcome to the Forum, and well done for posting here.
From reading your story, it appears, and you also admitted you’re actually struggling with how to manage your gambling addiction, and you feel eager and ready for any suggestion that can help you distract yourself from gambling.
You’ve already taken a huge step forward when you opened up to the Forum, and asked for some advice on distracting yourself from gambling, and I hope you get all the necessary and useful response to help you overcome your gambling problem.
My advice is that you try and distract yourself from the urge by engaging in other activities which you’ve enjoyed before, but which is not related to gambling. You can also use a specific distraction technique, for instance: doing things in backwards manner. You can count numbers from 100 down, and subtracting 3/7 from it each time, thus 100, 97, 94, 91 etc.
In the same way you can choose to read the alphabets backwards as well, plus anything that you can think of which will need your focused attention.
Since you already go to the gym, you might think of increasing your gym hours as well. Perhaps you might like to consider the advice from Julio (forum member) and find some voluntary work from one of the charities to occupy you. Boredom doesn’t help when you’ve got gambling addiction problem.
By not responding to the urge to gamble, it would soon pass, and you’ll be your normal self again.
In addition to the above, try and read from our chatroom/ forum; there are a lot of information there which can help and encourage you, and which would also make you aware that there is light at the end of the tunnel.
I’m also wondering if you’ll like to call our free phone Helpline on 0808 8020 133 for further help or, a 1 to 1 chat with one of our specially trained advisers. Our lines are open everyday from 8.00am to 12.00midnight.
Thanks again for your post, and pls. keep posting as often as you can.
Best wishes,
Beatrice
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