Slight exageration but Today is when I will again start my road to recovery. I am fruit Machine/Scratchcard addict and I am slowly destroying my life. I have a wonderful family and friends but I always want to self destruct! I am not just addicted to the highs I am addicted to the lows also, I have depression and anxiety and on meds because of it. I hoped they would help but they don't. So yesterday after feeling about as low as I have felt for years I decided today was the day I was going to drag myself out of this seemingly bottomless pit I am in and start climbing. I don't know if I will succeed but if you don't try you will always lose and you know what I am sick to £%$"%g death of losing. Time to be a winner!
Hi Alan
Looks like we are starting our recovery together, keep strong and keep racking up those gamble free days.
Shaun
My very best wishes to you Shaun
Strange day today. I don't know why but my anxiety felt through the roof when I popped out to get some shopping. No pubs were open so its not as if I wanted to go in and have a gamble. I think the reality of the last few days started sinking in and I hated that feeling. Now i am home and doing what i do to relax (cooking) and chilling with a wine I feel so much better. Can do without anxiety attacks thankyou very much they are not nice.
1st day i work since I decided to reboot my life. So far so good but I really need to cut down in the beer.
Hi Alan and Shaun. I will be joining you both in the recovery starting today. I wish you both the best..
I am a long term gambling addict. I'm turned 34 recentlyand been gambling since a teenager. I am seeking help today as have sunk fairly low with how it has taken over my life, and i am not living the life that i want due to being preoccupied with betting. I actually posted here in 2009 and 2011 for a number of weeks but unfortunately didnt overcome the battle. I am determined now since my quality of life depends on it.My relationship with my long term partner is over. I've moved out and have been a but isolated from friends and family so i need to do something about it all.
Colm
All the best Colm just keep yourself on target and your life WILL change for the better. I have had more ups n downs than a rollercoaster but this time I want it to be up up and away so to speak. Was a bit tempted yesterday evening d**n you scratchcards! BUT I managed to walk away long may that continue.
Thanks Alan. Good work. Every time you walk away you are succeeding. We have been there so many times and know all the downsides so we’ll done on your progress and look forward to hearing that continue on!
Well another day another NO gambling been here so many times though lets see what happens when I pass 100 days thats my 1st target
Another day ticked off......One day at a time
Today was a day that I truly struggled, in the morning my nerves seemed to be all over the place so the addiction attempted to kick in.....it FAILED but I could not get it out of my head... Happily got home so succeeded so I can rack another day gamling free.
Not much to say really....So far so good...just plodding along
Hi Alan,
What is it that you are going to do differently this time...things that will be able to help you along the way?
Cave you confided in anyone?.... I speak from exoperince when I say that trying to fight this alone can be lonley and its always good to get support.
Can you hand finances over to someone?....harder access to money means it would be more difficult to gamble.
Lots of things you can do if you make the effort. Its in your hands.
Damo
Thx for the advice Damo that actually is in hand. However I have always been a bit inward but for me I have to seriously WANT to quit and this time so far my mindset is good and since I started my recovery (almost 2 weeks now) I have continued to abstain. For me focusing on other things is best for me and not allow myself to wallow in self doubt and depression (which isn't easy sometimes) but so far so good, 2 more weeks to go til my next target...1 month gambling free and I will get there.
23 Days in and I haven't gambled so all good so far. It's strange some days I don't even think once about gambling but others you get that urge/feeling and perspective starts changing before I would just go and gamble now I get as far away from where I can gamble and I look at every day a victory. To everyone else fighting this horrible addiction...keep fighting
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