Abit about me, I had previously gambled for 4 years back in 2016, was online slots, must have spent thousands! Although of course I never really had any ‘big’ wins, as they say the only winners are these sites! It started as a way to escape what was going on in my life at that time, particularly changes, I’ve realised I don’t cope well with changes no matter how small they may seem. Anyway during lockdown, I signed up to GameStop which blocked all these sites I had been going on, great! It actually worked, i had stopped gambling up until around March this year, I had discovered the offshore sites, honestly the worst thing I’ve ever done, since than I had spiralled, spent thousands and more. In around £10k worth of debt, loans, credit cards etc, although I have set up payment plans for everything and just about keeping on top of all of them, still it’s a lot to keep on top of. Fortunately or unfortunately I had managed to self exclude myself from a chunk of the off shore sites, although my downfall have been the sites that repeatedly ignore any and every email you send them to self exclude. I’m still registered with GameStop and don’t plan on ever cancelling that, I’ve just set up Gamban on my phone. I think for me it was never about the ‘winning’ as a lot of times I deposited with the mindset that I wasn’t actually going to withdraw anything, was almost like if I have money in my bank, it’s almost an uncomfortable feeling like I need it gone! I don’t know if anybody can relate to that but anyway here I am! Starting at day 1!
A lot of this resonated with me! Espcially your last point. I would sometimes build up savings get on the path to being able to save for something big like a new car, but I would feel uncomfortable having all that money and nothing to spend it on, or I wanted it to go up and up and up!
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It may be day 1 but everyone starts everywhere. Today is day 7 on my second attempt. Good luck and may this be the start of your path to happiness and recovery 🙂
Hay , I’m new to this site . Iv been gambling for about a 2 years and never had a problem with it till the last few months , any time in stressed or upset or can’t cope with life I gamble all my money away . I’m glued to my phone and I never really win and if I do it all goes back on there , iv just now spent all my money on gambling cus I felt but lonly and board and just wanted to feel somthing and gambling gives me that safe feeing for the small time untill my bank is empty then I’m just like why did I do that , I need to stop cus it’s now affecting everything around me , my step sons birthday next week and going to get him somthing tomorrow , can’t now 😑😑 why I do it to myslef ???Â
@hit0f4l2rn hi! How is your recovery going!? I’m onto my second attempt, although day 7 for me now! Definitely don’t want to go back to that way of life anymore, now it’s just dealing with the aftermath of my actions! Which in turn even thinking about the debt accumulated through gambling would be enough to make me want to burying my head in the sand or should I say these gambling sites. But so far I’ve managed to not give into the urges which don’t seem to be as frequent, it’s mainly at night time
@3blzgxd41p Sorry to hear your previous attempt failed, but your back here so thats the first good step.
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I am doing well currently on day 31, I have found keeping my journal up to date very helpful espically when urges come on. Try doing that when you think about it at night... There is also the chatrooms that are open later.
@hit0f4l2rn oh wow! That so good 😊 thankyou for the advice I will do that
Just an updated. I’ve not wrote on here for a little while, but I’m still here and 2 weeks tomorrow gamble free! I’ve not really had any massive urges, which at this point I definitely would have especially with added stress in my life, but I’ve not and I feel great for it! Hopefully this is onwards and upwards!Â
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