DaveUK - New Diary

Just read your latest post DaveUK and it just goes to show how easy it is to fall back into the old routine.

I must say I applaud you for getting to within an inch of playing the FOBT again and then pulling back. Having gone into the betting shop with the £100 I think almost all of us would have gambled. So well done you.

Incidentally I noticed that a national bookmaker based in the Manchester area has recently replaced all his FOBT's with slinky new HD terminals.

No doubt the industry psychologists are confident this will snare even more unsuspecting punters.

These machines are out of control now, and have been for some time, and really should be outlawed.

Thanks blackjack - I am pleased I resisted but surprised I was even tempted.

Hope all is well with you.

When I saw people feeding in their hard earned money it brought all the bad memories and feelings back.

The urge has gone again so best I keep it that way.

To upset to type much - I have let myself down again!

How can I be so logical yet so stupid.

Will add to diary in a day or two as just so fed up.

Dave

Oh, so sorry mate to hear about your latest setback. Do keep us posted and try to explain exactly what happened. Rant away if you need to as we are all here to listen.

You have managed to start a recovery journey before and sustain it for a little while. There is absolutely no reason why you cannot start another, and more successful, one this time round.

November

(64 days to go, 9 weekends to go)

Still fed up - only redeeming feature is I put back what I had won previously plus a little more.

Always the same - they always get it back plus more.

Its just impossible !!

Ah well - done a week but it has been a horrible one.

Hai Dave, hows about hanging around a tad more? This is such a bixch of a thing to beat, especially by your self, with all us cyber buddies who can feel and relate to the horror's, surely its away forward??

Possibly a shitxty week, but sure better if stayed gambling free..Raw now, gets easier... read and post buddy......

Cannot even bear to walk past a bookies let alone go in - coming up to a couple of weeks and thanks Pauls - I agree I need to hang around a whole lot longer.

Thanks for the support and hope all is well with you.

Hi Dave well you have gone a week so good on you for that. Yes its hard and the battle has only just begun but you can do this. You have had a horrible week, but its a week without gambling. What will next week bring you ? I used to think I derived pleasure from gambling. My escape - my time etc - it was all lies and bull. Each day with gambling means a day closer to living a full and proper life again

Keep at it one day - one week at a time. All the best Blocked.

Hi Dave

I read the same ebook. It really helped. I haven't even thought of gambling since reading that. I've been 3 days now without gambling and its going well.

Ah well - have done a month and still very, very angry.

Saw lady from bookies in the chippy last night and she said 'I haven't seen you lately'! I told her I had given it up as a bad job and she said 'until next time'.

'It's not personal' I said, 'but I won't be in again'.

What a mug I will look if I ever go in again - lets hope I don't!

I guess that's a good incentive Dave! I'm sure you won't go back.

I've followed your story and well done on doing a month. Hope I can report the same in 3 weeks

Simon

Hi Dave

I'm sorry to hear of your little relapse a few weeks ago and hope to hear that you're still on the ' straight and narrow '.

As I said before I think you and I like many others on here are fortunate in that we don't seem to be in the mess some people are but I suspect it wouldn't take much to land on a really slippery slope if we're not careful.

I'm always trying to analyse why I gamble but the truth is deep down I know it's a stupid activity. I'm no Einstein but can clearly see that I cannot win in the long term. Any ' win ' is soon paid back with interest but I still can't bring myself to quit completely. Why ?

I've asked some of the staff in local shops whether they think I've a problem. They've all said no and I tend to believe that, not because it's what I want to hear, but because I've got to know them as ordinary people just doing a job.Some do have customers interests at heart.

I think perhaps that you and I are similar in that we don't bet the house on red but lose enough to set the alarm bells ringing. There is one good thing - other than financial - when not betting and that's not having to make all manner of excuses to ' pop out ' for a few minutes. ( if the number of times I go to get petrol is anything to go by I must be getting about ten miles to the gallon !! )

No one other than on here is aware of my gambling so I find this forum a good place to tell the world. As to how we nip this problem in the bud for good is, I'm afraid, a problem not yet solved.

I wish you all the best.

Hi blackjack and thanks for your kind thoughts.

You have summed it up well - not a disaster but if its not nipped in the bud it will be.

I have kept off roulette for 7 weeks so going well after the pathetic relapse.

Your 10 miles to the gallon made me laugh. I used to say I ran into an old friend!

I once went out for chips and said the queue was long - I was gone an hour and I only live 5 minutes away!! Nice chips though!!

Lets keep away mate!