Back to day 1

Hi,

​I know it's tough, I felt the same after going over a year gamble free. I threw away £4000 in an hour and my relationship was VERY close to ending with my girlfriend. Luckily she's the only person worth living for and supports me all the time.

​Do you have any plans in place to fill your time? I've found over the last week that being busy really does help and takes your mind off everything.

All the best with your recovery.

Thanks for your comment, I did in the beginning, always made sure I was busy, made sure I didn't have access to alot of money and didn't go into town alone, but just latley I've been feeling in control and thinking I'll be ok now. I also luckily have a very understanding family who will help me out but it just makes me feel even more guilty that I'm asking for help again! I confessed straight away, my mam was pretty angry and my husband's response really suprised me, he said it could have been worse, you could have won. I've been thinking about it and hes right if I had of won mybe I wouldn't have confessed and came straight back on here, in fact I'm pretty sure I wouldn't. So just gonna try and think of it as another very expensive lesson learned and try again. Although the urge to cry when I think I've worked all month for absolutely nothing isn't an easy thing to get over!

Sorry to hear you are struggling again. You've done this before and you know the good things being gamble free brings.

Hopefully you have worked out how you managed to gamble and put into place the necessary blocks to stop it happening again.

Is there anything more you can do other than blocks? Counselling? Talk to your husband more? He sounds very reasonable and aware of the dangers of gambling. It could help for you to sit and talk to him more about it. I've done the same with my family and we talk about it openly all the time.

Say around and keep posting. All the best 🙂

Hi sjwsjw, thanks for your comment. Yes I know exactly how it happened I was feeling low due to failing my driving test again, then got paid alot less then I expected because of time off sick, I didn't hand my money over to my mam straight away like id usually do or make plans for the day and went to town alone! A whole combination of low mood money and spare time. It's like I knew what I was doing but just didn't care. I'm deffinatly talking it through more, even telling someone I'm close to at work today, feels slightly embarrassing but I need to get it all out, that's why just writing in here helps so much.
Day 1 again feeling very tired today after little sleep last night but at work so keeping busy. Just hoping I sleep well tonight and feel better tomorrow. Can't keep doing this to myself it's mentally exhausting!!

Day 2, slept abit better last night but still woke feeling miserable. Back in work again which helps take my mind of it a little but still started having thoughts of how I could try and win back what I lost, stupid I know but aleast I wouldn't have chance to today even if I tried, after work going to my mams for a dinner with all the family hopefully that will cheer me up, gonna try and just be gratefull for all the amazing people in my life instead of worrying about money.

Glad you slept a bit better last night but try not to feel too miserable.
Day two, look at it as it's the beginning of the rest of your life. A life that with each passing day you can lay the building blocks that takes you onto the gamble free path of success. You had to have that last cruel loss to make you realise and reinforce that whatever circumstances come our way gambling never seems to improve them. Yes on a few rare occasions it may give a quick fix but you can bet your boots in the long run it always wins.
Pick yourself up, dust yourself down and go and enjoy the company of your family. Hold your head up because you know that as from today, if you make plans to get blocks in place, reach out for help and if you believe in yourself then things can only get better. Just take it a step at a time. You can do this! All good wishes x

Thanks little miss lost, I'm hoping it will be easier this time as I now know I can go without gambling and it improved my life so much when I did, I know what worked last time and can learn from how it went wrong. Tomorrow will be a new day and I can start making plans financially and put more blocks in place. I'm also thinking about getting some counselling.

Day 3, the dark cloud that's hung over me all weekend is finally starting to lift. Had a productive day, borrowed some money, paid some bills and worked out exactly how I can make it stretch for the rest of the month. Looking at my online banking for the first time since Friday felt like a stab in the stomach but at least I've got my head out of the sand now. Then give the house a good clean, caught up on some jobs id been putting off. Still feeling irritable and struggling to relax even after a nice bath, so gonna try a cup of chamomile tea and an early night. At least ive had no urges to gamble, the very thought makes me feel sick.

Day 4, been a good day went to help my gran with her house work this morning then food shopping, cooked a nice meal for tea then been helping my daughter with her homework. Not a single thought of gambling and havnt been dwelling on my loss either. I'll be back at work tomorrow till next Tuesday so no need to make plans to fill my time untill then. I feel quite happy tonight putting the past behind me and looking forward to a gamble free future!

Hi again . I’m also sorry that you have slipped nobody said this was easy . It’s probably not much consolation to you but it has helped me and probably other people to know that a slip is just around the corner . By helping yourself again right now you have given me help. It’s twisted logic but if anything good can come out of a slip it’s the fact that we are all human and only 5 seconds away from gambling . You have what it takes to beat it. Before you came here you would most likely gamble and not think about it . Now when you gamble it’s gambling with remorse. Look on that as a massive positive you have come a long way just try and not carry this ball and chain much longer . Best wishes Bryan

Sorry to hear you have slipped recently but you've dusted yourself down and are carrying on the fight. Well done mate

Wilsy

Thanks Bryan and wilsy, on day 7 now and even though the first couple of days were devastating, since then it's been pretty easy, not like when I stopped for the first time and i was thinking about gambling constantly for the first few weeks. Now Its barley crossing my mind, I'm over the money, it was my whole months wage but I'll have plenty more to spend wisely in the future! Feeling confident that I won't allow this to happen again, I know now that no matter how much time passes I'll always be a cg an and for me it will never be possible to just have a few spins! Keeping that in mind aswell as putting my blocks back in place i should be able to stay gf from now on. I felt like id failed at first but i havnt i just just made one (very expensive) mistake and I've learned from it and now I'm back on track!!