Hi,
I have been a problem gambler for the last 6 years. The first 4 years I gambled daily online on slots. The last 2 years I tend to binge gamble once a month.
over the years I’ve used every gambling block out there across all computers in the house (including family members) ive tried phone locks, iPad locks. Someone else looking after my money. Gam stop exclusion for me and my mum (because other people sometimes let me gamble on their accounts, I have some people who know my addiction and still let me and others who don’t know who let me)
Problem is I’m now thinking, by doing all these lock downs it’s not giving me any chance to build willpower to say no everyday. Because the lock downs are there and I rely on them to stop me rather than my own doing.
There will always be a new laptop, new phone or new person to enable me.
Is is there any point locking the devices down? Should I leave them all open and try to say no everyday and hopefully build willpower?
Btw I can’t go gam anon for personal reasons. I also have adhd and struggle with impulsive spending and impulse control.
Is it a bad idea to leave it open? Because it seems like any open window I get to gamble I take it.
Hi Lola, personally, I would have all the blocks possible in place to cover yourself from any problem gambling that you’re currently experiencing. At this stage, it’s not really about building willpower, it’s more about stopping the ‘bleeding’. Then after a period of time where you’ve relied heavily on the blocks to keep yourself in check, you can begin to look at the next steps in your recovery, such as educating yourself on problem gambling etc.
It’s baby steps. You just need to block yourself from gambling to keep yourself afloat. Things will start to become clearer in your head once you’ve put a considerable amount of distance between your last bet.
Best of luck, Dan
these sites are so harmful to those trying to fight the temptation. slightly off topic but there needs to be in my opinion more government enforced sanctions on these websites. especially for those who are super vunerable. your personal story is what i myself and many others are going through on a daily basis. Unfortunatly when the temption and irrationallity kicks in almost unconciously, its often to late. I honestly think gambling websites should be closed and banks/ governments should introduce stricter sanctions to those who clearly suffer from this terrible addiction. Gambling almost certainly is one of the main precursors to destabling ones mental health. all the best.
Block the lot
Maybe willpower alone is not enough to beat gambling addiction? Sounds like you go about a month or so based on willpower alone and gamble again so even if you accumulated a bucketload of willpower over time you'll always be vulnerable relying on just this alone?
Well this was true in my case anyway.
Mechanical blocks bought me time to search my soul, understand why I was an addict and how this manifested in my behaviour and by being unable to gamble 'in the moment' I built up time which I used to deep clean my soul. Underneath all the mess was my spirit.
Once this was reawakened I had little urge to gamble.
It's up to you how you create that breathing space away from gambling ie blocks or no blocks. What is crucial is how you use that breathing space and how much effort you put into self-discovery.
There are reasons you do what you do.
Come on here in a month or two and tell me what you have discovered about yourself. But to find those answers you'll have to abstain from gambling as part of that journey... By any means necessary.
Good luck
Hi lola0612.
You will not do this with willpower alone so you need good blocks that work for you.
You are in the confused early days and Im sorry but you post reads like a list of excuses. If you are breaking blocks then you need blocks that actually work.
The addiction is very strong with you. It wont let you go easily. It took me 10 months after joining the forum to finally do something properly about it. It was my born again moment and you havent reached that yet.
Other pople who let you gamble are toxic in your life. You need to start learning about this addiction. It will destroy you but you are dabbling at stopping. Your mindset at the moment is that you dont want to stop...your mind wont let you. You know that you should but are controlled by a higher power.
Please tell us more about your blocks. You need to be honest with the people close to you and they should be holding all your money for you and monitoring whether you are getting it from somewhere else. If they are gamblers you dont need them in your life so dont let another gambler hold your money.
You have a lot to learn. Its not about willpower. You have a drug addiction and its about cold turkey so you cant gamble when an urge arises.
Botoom line if you have been online gambling you cant have access to devices or it has to be strictly monitored by someone who cares about you.
You dont understand yey whst you are dealing with here...gambling destroys people and it kills people. The blocks are a small price to pay to save any quality of life.
Its not a game and I understand that you will be confused while addicted.
PROPER blocks on now please or you will continue to gamble. Gambling has new lows in store for you so you MUST stop.
Best wishes from everyone on the forum
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