Struggling

I still get urges walks ..to the point it feels unbearable not to have that release im glad the blocks have worked !!

I try to weigh up the pros vs cons of gambling in the end the cons outweight the pros. If you havent already take a look at the gamchange course ..if you go to the recovery toolkit at the top of the page, since doing that course im a lot better at managing my urges its not everyone but that course helped me 

Lou x 

Posted by: Walks15

Im 43 days gambling free, its been a battle, I've been trying so so hard too stay on track and at the moment I am. However I feel my self slipping, the thoughts are so strong and it feels like its getting harder too resist. I know people will say but youve come so far why ruin it now and I get that but when every inch of your brain is consumed with the thought and need too gamble it doesn't feel as simple as that. Ive tried too gamble twice this week trying too find a site that will let me as I'm signed up too gamstop. Ive actually cried at the fact I haven't been able too. I thought that the first week would be hard then it would get easier but I guess it isn't as simple as that. I guess its going too be like being on a rollercoaster. I'm not good with having things took out of my control and logically I know it needed too happen but emotionally I get angry at the fact I can't, I get upset. Does anyone else get these feelings? How do you stay on track? How do you pick yourself up from the urges? 

You say that you are not good with having things taking out of your control but the way I see it, if you don't gamble, then you are in control. If you go back to it, that's when you're not in control. You're going through insane amounts of withdrawal symptoms which is natural. I really hope you continue to stay in control and don't gamble. 

Good Morning Walks,

First of all, well done for going  more than 6 weeks without gambling. That is an achievement. You’ve already managed to do something that many cannot.

Secondly, the feelings that you are experiencing are perfectly normal and understandable.

When I first stopped gambling, which was 570 days ago, my short term plan was to stop because I couldn’t cope with anything else however, my long term plan was to change my mindset. Somewhere down the line I had to convince myself that life without gambling was better than a life with gambling. To achieve this I had to take notice of the small changes.

In my head, I was giving up the most dangerous and deadly thing, the only thing that could destroy me. Roulette had the ability to take everything from me - if I continued I could have gotten myself into serious trouble which would have affected all other aspects of my life. By stopping I removed this danger and convinced myself that it was the best and safest decision and that I would need to start improving my life in other areas.

Not for everyone but my thing was to start running. It was tough at first but I needed something tough. If it was something easy it wouldn’t have had the same effect. 570 days ago I was unhealthy in body and mind. Running would begin to fix this. The time during running gave me time to think, to deal with bad or confusing thoughts. Although the run could be hard, I always felt better mentally afterwards. Obviously, I became far fitter, lost some weight, look better and probably feel a little more confident.

Running is my thing I don’t know what yours could be. Try something that challenges you and makes you better, healthier, happier etc.

Your life will become immeasurably better without gambling but you need something else to focus on. You can’t mope about not gambling. You’re not giving anything up other than something that made you bitterly unhappy, took your money, your time, your sleep and caused you endless worry.

You are 43 days in. Focus on today and your future and do something that makes you and your life better. Go forward with courage and belief. Do not go backwards.

RR

Sorry you are struggling walks. Are you having any help eg. Counselling or cbt treatment. Try to look back to day 1 and remember how you felt then. Desperate to stop and begin recovery. You can get through this x

Hello Walk15,

Thankyou for sharing your story.

How do you fight the urges?

The answers are so varies, it depends on individuals, circumstances etc. Try something simple for starts, when you feel the urges to gamble, stop, acknowledge the feeling, take a few deep breaths and rewire the mindset. 

1. Go for a short walk and take in the fresh air.

2. Go and watch Utube clips on recovery gamblers such as Only Phil.

3. Understand that urges come and goes. The urges become less and less intense over time.

I hope this helps.

Ps stay sane, calm, and take one day at a time

well done for the 43 days wether its 43 days or 43 hours yes im gonna say dont ruin it i totally get what your saying them urges totally suck im only 7 days gf today iv not had urges sinse the 3rd day or so but my urges came at the times i used to gamble so what i did was when they came i set my alarm for 2 hours and told myself just wait see what happens and after 1 hour i had ocupied myself with soemthing else i enjoy ( granted not as much as gambling ) but it worked the urges left , so my advice would be to you get a diary and everytime you get urges write it down what happend just before you got them where you was , did you get sad / mad and everything like that there maybe a reason / pattern that you are not aware of and you could stop the urges before they come i meen like i said im only 7 days at the mo but just giving you any advice to help its worked for me so maybe yiu could just give it a go and i know when ppl day try this try that u may think no dnt like diarys or dont like exercise but please try you might surprise yourself you have nothing to lose but you stand to lose everything good luck mate 

Keep strong please listen to motivational speechs on you tube they help with motivation and wellbeing has helped me, revise all blocks get on gamstop, ring your bank and ask for gamble freeze on card, block self from all bookies, and finally download gamban on all electronic devises you have. Hope this helps because when we're weak these help give enough time to keep with recovery 

Thank you for everyone's advice, I appreciate it x

no problem stay strong keep asking for help and advice dont do it alone we sre all in the same ship x