Hi, not sure where to start here. I'm 19 years of age with my whole life ahead of me. From this day forward that life will be gamble free. I've been gambling as soon as I turned 18. Started off with harmless accumulators on a Sunday afternoon £5 here and there. I didn't think there was any harm in that. It began to slowly esclate betting on ever sport you could imagine. Luckily I have never been in debt and have always found a way through to the next payday. But reading some of the topics on here, the last thing I want is for this to escalate any more than it has. I've probably lost well over a grand. That's gone I just need to forget about it. Gambling is never a way out and there are plenty more bad times than there is good. I've self excluded from as many betting sites as I can. I only gamble online never go into shops. I hope you join me on this journey as I defeat this horrible hidden demon.
YorkshireLad.
Welcome to the forum YorkshireLad. Well done for spotting the signs early and being proactive in your quest to defeat the gambling demons. I'm sure many on here, including myself, wished that they'd dealt with their problems sooner.
Your story is similar to mine. Started off betting relatively small but things just escalated over the years.
Good luck on your journey mate. Why not join the challenges to give you some added incentive.
Moorey
Moorey631986 wrote:
Welcome to the forum YorkshireLad. Well done for spotting the signs early and being proactive in your quest to defeat the gambling demons. I'm sure many on here, including myself, wished that they'd dealt with their problems sooner.
Your story is similar to mine. Started off betting relatively small but things just escalated over the years.
Good luck on your journey mate. Why not join the challenges to give you some added incentive.
Moorey
Hi Moorey,thanks for the response. I will defiantly be checking the challenges tomorrow and will sign myself up to keep myself active and occupied. Always good to have a short term goal achievable. In terms of my gambling that's what I'm worried about the escalation. It already has to an extent with stake size going from one 0 at the beginning to now where they are occassionally 3 0's when chasing. I still feel in a good positive position to beat this. But taking it one day at a time and can't get complacent!
Just checking in on the morning of day 1, I woke up with gambling thoughts. It's not about the actual gambling but the money wasted and the people I have let down. I will not dwell on the money lost because it's gone and that's it. Time to think of a happy future gamble free.
Hope everybody has a great Wednesday.
Yorkshire Lad.
First day done and dusted. Feels good the feeling of gambling is still raw. But the problem with us gamblers is we want instant success hence chasing losses. This day has felt long. But I watched a documentary on gambling BBC on YouTube really opened my eyes. To the destruction this illness can cause. I am ending day 1 gamble free. Onwards and upwards.
YorkshireLad.
Hi YL
Your story is very similar to mine and I’m glad to know someone of similar age is struggling with almost the exact problem I am. I’m 22 and have hit “rock bottom” about 3 times over a 4yr gambling ‘career’ as I used to see it. Like you my way of “playing” was betting on sports. I used to think I was “good” as I would build up large pots sometimes. But as always you give it all back and then loads more. Gambling has made me cry before and I’m no longer ashamed to admit that. Why would I return to something that has reduced me to tears? You’re fortunate that you’re self aware enough at a younger age than me to kick this habit. I’ve lost over 5k in 4yrs which isn’t as tragic as some stories on here by any means. But I would be ashamed of myself if I took comfort from that, I don’t at-all. Gambling is a dirty, sleazy, lying scumbag disguised as a man with a golden ticket. We were silly to believe the lies and chase something unachieveable in a system designed to take our money. But we must forgive ourselves for making that decision and move on.
I look forward to making it to Christmas with you gamble free YorkshireLad, on we march!
movingforward2017 wrote:
Hi YL
Your story is very similar to mine and I’m glad to know someone of similar age is struggling with almost the exact problem I am. I’m 22 and have hit “rock bottom” about 3 times over a 4yr gambling ‘career’ as I used to see it. Like you my way of “playing” was betting on sports. I used to think I was “good” as I would build up large pots sometimes. But as always you give it all back and then loads more. Gambling has made me cry before and I’m no longer ashamed to admit that. Why would I return to something that has reduced me to tears? You’re fortunate that you’re self aware enough at a younger age than me to kick this habit. I’ve lost over 5k in 4yrs which isn’t as tragic as some stories on here by any means. But I would be ashamed of myself if I took comfort from that, I don’t at-all. Gambling is a dirty, sleazy, lying scumbag disguised as a man with a golden ticket. We were silly to believe the lies and chase something unachieveable in a system designed to take our money. But we must forgive ourselves for making that decision and move on.
I look forward to making it to Christmas with you gamble free YorkshireLad, on we march!
Hi MovingForward
I'm glad I'm not the only one of this age, I believed I was the only one haha. I look forward to our challenge to Christmas, I've also cried losing gambling absolutely no shame at all. I hope we can encourage each other to stay GF mate. Checking in Day 2 GF no urges. But tommorow is another day.
YorkshireLad.
3rd day gamble free. No urges. Tomorrow will be tough with the football. But I will not crack.
YorkshireLad.
Oops I thought I posted yesterday. I had some urges but managed to avoid the football. Happy with myself for that. Today so far so good no gambling urges. Hopefully 5 days gamble free.
YorkshireLad
6 days done no urges. Working away this week. Hopefully boredom doesn't kick in at all.
Almost a week, well done mate. Been lurking your board from the start from my mobile. I only log in here on my PC to post messages every few days, so will be watching from the sidelines for the next few days.
All the best
Unfortunately i relapsed and went back to the dark side of gambling. Feel so ashamed of myself. But I've now self excluded and I'm ready to fight this. I don't ever want to feel the shame and disappointed that i feel when i go to gambling. So this is the morning of Day 1. Wish me luck.
Main thing is you aren't giving up on trying to give up, Just go again and put your blocks in place to protect you
Wilsy wrote:
Main thing is you aren't giving up on trying to give up, Just go again and put your blocks in place to protect you
Thanks Wilsy, exactly blocks are firmly in place now.Day one more or less done had a productive day at work trying to stay busy and not give myself enough time to think about gambling and the money lost. Luckily I'm in no debt and haven't gone into my savings, so it could be a whole lot worse but it could also be a whole lot better.
Day 2 done and dusted busy day which is always good no urges today.
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