Hello beautiful people,
So - I'm not going to discuss my story in detail right now... I believe it is on the forum already?
Anyway - I can give people who are like me hope!
I have always been feeling I'm missing out on gambling when I've quit. I've been like many of you - hateful towards it, but after a while into recovery I have felt I've missed out by not doing something which started as pleasurable (I think we all agree that it was a buzz at the beginning, it certainly isn't when it comes to addiction)..
So by avoiding and avoiding... And my vice was football so even seeing the scores... I would eventually fall... I'm not proud of that.
It's been a while since my last bet and I want to explain why that is...
I read Allen Carrs gambling book!
It sounds crazy but it was so easy to quit after reading it... I won't give too many details on the technique in case it affects the book... But it's not like hypnosis... It's genuinely just a book that makes you feel no need to continue... You won't feel like you are missing out on anything by not gambling, as you'll truly understand.
It's also useful for people who want to help someone they are worried about.
And it works! The smoking version literally has made millions of smokers never feel the need to smoke!
I'm more than happy for people to say if this book hasn't worked - this is not an advertisement.
I'm just saying how much freedom it's given me that willpower never truly gave me... As I say, I've been a member on here for a while and this is the only time I've mentioned the book.
Ask your library to order a copy in for free, if you like? It might be useful to own but it's not necessary as it's more a read-all-the-way-through-once book aha!
The first chapter is free on apple book store and I think there is an audiobook on iTunes (but not sure if it's equally effective?)
Anyone that doesn't feel this works then please post a negative review below as I don't want to misguide people if it doesn't work for some!
Book is called Allen Carr - easy way to quit gambling
It's patronising that it's called 'easy way', but that's the name of the series
Author is now dead I believe
I expect it resembles his books on quitting cigarettes and alcohol. The glowing reviews on Amazon are remarkable.
I'm amazed I haven't read about this here before. Maybe it's a new book though - I remember looking for it on Amazon before (wondering whether there was an Allen Carr book for gambling, I mean) and not finding anything.
I'm reading it myself at the moment (3/4 of the way through) and it is definitely good. My mindset is changing.
Ive just literally finished reading it.
It has changed my mindset and would deffo recommend purchasing it.
After reading allen carrs book the easy way to stop gambling (which i highly recommend reading btw) ive been thinking loads about the will power method of abstaining from gambling.
You would have to read the book to fully understand but ive though of this scenario which I hope may be helpful to anyone whos reading this;
When you were a kid and you wanted to play out with your frienda there were tines when your parents said 'no you cant' youve got to finish your homework you can play out tomorrow or whatever. Your actions were in part dictated by your parents - a good thing as if were up to us we would have been out 24/7 with our best mates doing whatever. You probably felt you were being deprived of being stopped spending time with your friends. The point is you didnt have to use your own willpower to stop yourself from spending too much time playing out when you needed a healthy balance.
Move on to now...
So you havent got your parents making decisions for you any more. You can do as you please, see your friends whenever you like. You dont even have to use any willpower to stay away from them. Thats crazy - you want to see them - you make plans to see them...
Now gambling and the willpower method...
The whole point im trying to make is that using willpower not to do something implies that doing that thing is desirable to you in the first place - like i know that donut is gonna taste soooooo good but i shouldnt really as im supposed to be in a diet and ive already had 2 today!
You wouldnt use willpower to stop yourself from doong bad things afterall - like putting your hand in a fire would you?
So the example above should beg the question - why am i using willpower to stop myself from doing something that I clearly recognise as being BAD?
Allen's book will make you realise that setting off with the mindset of using willpower is not the right way to go about beating your addiction
Upon looking through the excellent Gamcare forum I have stumbled across this thread. I had a read of the Allen Carr book and two things stood out. i) He has based it on his ultra successful smoking addiction book. It is a different addiction and I think the cracks appear ii) It has distinct similarities to the excellent 'Overcoming Gambling' book by Phil Mawer. The book by Phil really is superb and in my opinion really captures what gambling addiction is all about and the effects it has on the gamblers family. It is also very practical. Phil's book really helped my recovery since 2011 and I think he is right to acknowledge that overcoming gambling is really, really hard ....not easy!
I have also just read the book after reading this thread and have found it very enlightning if you can buy into the books way of thinking. Not for one minute saying quitting gambling is easy but the way willpower method is explained you can see why we are always tempted to go back whereas if you can change your mindset and think the way you are being shown then maybe just maybe you have a chance of cracking this for good. As we all know different things work for different folks so will not be suitable for everyone.
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